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The 2026 World Cup Golden Boot (top scorer), Golden Gloves (best goalie), and Best Young Player honors went to Kylian Mbappe, Unai Simon, and Pau Cubarsi, all La Liga stars. The Golden Ball (best player) went to Rodri, a Premier League player.
Other top players like the dejected Harry Kane with his six goals (Bundesliga), World Cup top assister Michael Olise (Bundesliga), Ousmane Dembele with his six goals (Ligue 1), and others represented some of Europe's top leagues
Unsurprisingly, the leagues with the top five most 2026 World Cup knockout stage minutes belonged to Europe's top five (England's Premier League, Spain's La Liga, Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A, and France's Ligue 1). After them, however, was not the breakthrough Liga MX (Mexico) or Argentina Liga (home of the World Cup runners-up).
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Instead, America's MLS ranked sixth with 2,862 knockout-stage minutes (per writer Matthew Doyle).
Here are some of the best MLS players at the 2026 World Cup:
On Team USA
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino opted for two MLS starters: centerback and captain Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), and goalkeeper Matt Freese (NYCFC)
Both had poor showings in the US's 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16. Ream was dunked on for Belgium's second goal by forward Charles De Ketelaere, and Freese helplessly gave the ball away outside his box for Belgium's third.
Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), son of former USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter, was a spark plug off the bench. Defender Maximilian Arfsten (Columbus Crew) also saw knockout minutes.
Rest of World
Unsurprisingly, Argentina star Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) led the way with 450 knockout stage minutes (not including injury time) and was unsubbed in his side's run to the World Cup final.
His teammate, Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami) alternated between starting and coming off the bench in Argentina's run.
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Argentina had to get through a tricky Cape Verde side in the Round of 32, led at the back by Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), who played 120 minutes in the 3-2 defeat.
Midfielder Stephan Estaquio (LAFC) scored Canada's winning goal in a 1-0 Round of 32 victory over South Africa, led at the back by defender Mbekezzeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire).
Paraguay, which upset Germany in the Round of 32, featured MLS stalwarts Andres Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps) and Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United).
Others like Colombia's James Rodriguez (Minnesota United), Australia's Lucas Harrington (Colorado Rapids), and Canada's Richie Laryea (Toronto FC) also saw knockout stage minutes.
