In a surprising turn of events, Lionel Messi has been ranked third in the FIFA World Cup performance rankings, a key metric for determining the Golden Ball award at the tournament. This ranking was updated by FIFA's statistical experts and reflects the players' performances throughout the ongoing World Cup 2026.

The new "World Cup Power" ranking system, introduced for this year's tournament, aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of players' performances. It takes into account various metrics, including goals, assists, passing accuracy, dribbling, defensive actions, saves, speed, and stamina. This year, FIFA has introduced the performance ranking as a crucial tool for scoring players in the race for the World Cup Golden Ball.

As the quarter-finals approached, Messi was initially ranked second, just behind Kylian Mbappe. However, following the quarter-finals, Jude Bellingham of England overtook him. Bellingham received an impressive score of 8.25 in the attacking category, 6.43 for creativity, and 5.67 in defense, totaling 20.35 points. Although Messi's overall score of 20.38 slightly surpasses Bellingham's, the English midfielder's stronger attacking score likely contributed to his higher placement.

Mbappe remains in the lead with a total score of 21.09, while Erling Haaland has dropped from third to fourth place. Ousmane Dembele made a significant leap from ninth to sixth place after the quarter-finals, while Harry Kane fell from fourth to ninth. Swiss star Manzambi maintains his fifth position, but with his team eliminated, his chances of staying in the top rankings are slim.

This year's World Cup has proven to be a thrilling competition, with performances being closely monitored and evaluated, making the race for the Golden Ball more intense than ever.