Spoiler alert: Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are in there, along with surprise names who have helped to cause some of the many big upsets in Qatar and others who are putting themselves in the shop window for post-tournament transfers.
The selection was made using the 4-3-3 formation preferred by most teams at this World Cup.
GOALKEEPER – Wojciech Szczesny (Poland)
Forget about Robert Lewandowski — Szczesny is the reason why Poland has reached the knockout stage for the first time since 1986. He has made 18 saves — more than any goalkeeper.
RIGHT BACK – Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Hakimi has transferred his club form with Paris Saint-Germain to the World Cup and is the relentlessly attacking right back of one of the surprise teams of the tournament, helping Morocco top a group that included Croatia and Belgium.
LEFT BACK – Alphonso Davies (Canada)
Canada has already gone home but, in Davies, it has a player who could easily have graced the knockout stage.
CENTER BACK -Josko Gvardiol (Croatia)
Known as “Little Pep” because of the similarities of his last name with that of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, Gvardiol is the hulking figure marshalling the defense of Croatia team that has conceded only one goal in its three group games.
CENTER BACK – Harry Souttar (Australia)
Souttar, the tallest outfield player at the World Cup at 6-foot-6 (1.98-meters), is delivering one of the
storylines of the tournament. He only returned from ACL surgery weeks before the tournament but has been putting his body on the line for Australia with his many blocks and last-ditch tackles.
MIDFIELDER – Casemiro (Brazil)
Casemiro is the midfield shield for a Brazil defense that didn’t concede in its first two group games, helping the team ease into the last 16.
MIDFIELDER – Antoine Griezmann (France)
Griezmann typically plays just off the striker but has been deployed in a different position by France coach
Didier Deschamps, as one of two attacking players in a central-midfield three. He has created 11 chances, more than any other player in the tournament.
MIDFIELDER – Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
In his role as Portugal’s playmaker, Fernandes had a hand in four of the team’s five goals — scoring twice and
assisting twice — in their wins over Ghana and Uruguay that secured a last-16 spot with a match to spare, before
getting rested for the loss to South Korea.
FORWARD – Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)
The 23-year-old Gakpo was already in demand before the World Cup. After scoring in each of the Netherlands’
group matches, he has virtually assured himself a big-money move either in January or in the offseason, with
Manchester United already heavily linked.
FORWARD – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Less is proving more for the 35-year-old Messi at the World Cup. He walks around for much of his matches, often
letting play develop without getting involved, then explodes into life when he does get the ball.
FORWARD – Kylian Mbappé (France)
Mbappé, the star of the 2018 World Cup, is looking a good bet for the Golden Boot four years later after scoring
three goals in his first two games before being brought on as a late substitute on France’s third game.
