Which strikers stole the show when it mattered most in the World Cup group stages?
Well, that’s what we’re about to find out. With all the storylines now played out and focus turned to the heavyweight football that comes with the knockout stages, it’s time for some power rankings for the top 10 strikers of matchday three.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Hwang popped up at the death and fired South Korea to a shock victory over Portugal, that also secured them a place in the last 16. Goals don’t get bigger than that.
Lacked the spark that has made him stand out so far in Qatar in Spain’s defeat to Japan, but Olmo can still be counted on to deliver in the knockout stages.
It all came too late for Serbia, but we got a glimpse of what they were capable of against Switzerland – and it was glorious.
Mitrovic scored an absolute peach of a header by getting on the end of a stunning cross. Give this man service and he will provide.
Watching Vlahovic’s performance against Switzerland leaves you scratching your head as to why Serbia didn’t go with a two-striker system from the off.
The guy is an absolute animal and marked his only start in Qatar with a tru striker’s finish. Elite.
The teenager couldn’t stop Germany from crashing out of a second successive World Cup, but he did show the world what he’s capable of.
It’s scary to think how good Musiala could be by the time 2026 rolls around.
Afforded a rare star by Gareth Southgate, and made the absolute most of it with a brilliant brace.
Rashford is in a terrific groove right now since being revived at Manchester United and is strutting his stuff for club and country. Could be a huge asset if England go deep into the tournament.
Yes, he missed a penalty. But we know Messi isn’t very good at those.
We can probably let him off, considering just how good he is and was against Poland, even without scoring. It was like a flashback to the past. Messi looked well and truly on it.
Mbappe sits out and France lose. Do the maths.
Defeat in matchday three serves as a reminder to Les Bleus that they are in fact human after all. To be in with a chance of doing the unthinkable, they need the near superhuman Mbappe leading the charge.
Three games, three goals. Left foot, right foot, header.
The group stages couldn’t really have gone any better for Gakpo, who looks to be doing everything in his power to incite a bidding war for his services in January.
Who would’ve thought? Probably not even Morata himself.
The man who has been scapegoated just about wherever he has been is firing his way to a World Cup golden boot charge. For all of the beautiful football Spain try to play, Morata is the anti-hero that they need.
Credit: 90min.com
