We’re well underway at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and now that the group stage has concluded, here is our best XI so far, where the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro make the team. However, there’s no room for superstars Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi as younger stars continue to leave their mark on the world’s biggest stage and outshine the legendary veterans. So, here’s our best XI of the 2022 World Cup Group Stage.
Best XI of the 2022 World Cup Group Stage
Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny
Poland finished in second spot in Group C behind Argentina and the Juventus ‘keeper has been crucial in their efforts at the World Cup so far. The 32-year-old kept back-to-back clean sheets to open the tournament against both Mexico and Saudi Arabia and he has also managed to keep out two penalty kicks so far, including one against Lionel Messi, despite Poland going on to lose the match. Szczesny will now be tasked with keeping out Mbappe in the last 16.
Right-back: Achraf Hakimi
Former Inter right-back Achraf Hakimi is next up in our Best XI and he has been a key man in Morocco’s somewhat surprising performance at this year’s World Cup. The African side topped Group F ahead of both Croatia and Belgium and the Atlas Lions also conceded just one goal across all three group matches, keeping clean sheets against both Croatia and Belgium as well. Hakimi also provided an assist for Youssef En Nesyri against Canada with a wonderful deep pass. Morocco continue their World Cup journey against Spain in the first knockout round.
Centre-back: Harry Maguire
Harry Maguire has proven his critics wrong and has once again performed for England at a major tournament. The Manchester United defender has been superb at the heart of defense for the Three Lions, helping them keep two clean sheets from their three group stage fixtures. Having formed a solid defensive partnership with John Stones, Maguire has also threatened from set-pieces. However, he’ll be thankful that he doesn’t have to face Sadio Mane when they go up against Senegal in the round of 16.
Centre-back: Kalidou Koulibaly
The former Napoli centre-back has been as impressive as ever in Qatar and has helped guide Senegal to a place in the knockouts for just the second time in their history. Kalidou Koulibaly put in a real captain’s performance against Ecuador, scoring the winner as his side secured their place in the last 16. He will face a difficult England attack in the first knockout round.
Left-back: Alex Sandro
Alex Sandro put in two very strong performances in Brazil’s opening group stage matches, helping his side to two clean sheets and to secure qualification into the knockouts. Brazil were one of the favorites heading into the competition and their performances thus far have done very little to change that. However, Juventus’ Sandro did miss Brazil’s final Group G match against Cameroon due to injury and he is still in doubt for their last 16 clash against South Korea.
?? JAPAN over GERMANY ??
?? MOROCCO over BELGIUM ??
?? SOUTH KOREA over URUGUAY ??
?? AUSTRALIA over DENMARK ??The World Cup group stage has been UNREAL ? pic.twitter.com/iyWqRh4edP
— ESPN (@espn) December 2, 2022
Central-midfield: Frenkie de Jong
The Netherlands have made a strong start to their World Cup campaign, topping Group A without defeat. Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has impressed at his first World Cup and has scored a goal and also provided an assist in his first three games. He faces a tough midfield battle against the United States in the form of Juventus’ Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Yunus Musah.
Central-midfield: Casemiro
The Manchester United midfielder has impressed in the middle of midfield for Brazil so far and also scored a wonderful goal against Switzerland on matchday two to secure the South American side’s spot in the round of 16. Not only was the goal impressive but so too was Casemiro’s performance, with a host of Brazilian legends singling him out for praise. The 30-year-old is now at the peak of his career and could be the key man to guide Brazil to World Cup glory.
Central-midfield: Bruno Fernandes
With two goals and two assists to his name after just two appearances in Qatar, Bruno Fernandes had to make the list and becomes the third Manchester United player to do so. Fernandes helped Portugal top Group H after assisting twice in Portugal’s tournament opener against Ghana and also scoring both goals in their 2-0 victory over Uruguay.
Right-wing: Kylian Mbappe
It’s that man Mbappe who’s stealing the headlines once more. He’s the current joint-top goalscorer at this year’s tournament with three goals and he only started two games at the group stage. Mbappe scored the third goal in France’s 4-1 demolition of Australia to begin the competition before going on to score both goals against Denmark in their 2-1 win to secure qualification into the knockouts. Despite initially being rested for the final group match against Tunisia, Didier Deschamps did call on his star man in the second half and whilst he did look impressive, Mbappe couldn’t manage to stop defeat. Les Bleus face Robert Lewandowski’s Poland in the last 16.
Centre-forward: Cody Gakpo
The Dutch forward pips Lionel Messi to the centre-forward role and rightfully so after equalling Mbappe’s tally of three World Cup goals. The PSV Eindhoven attacker has been excellent so far, scoring in all three of the Netherlands’ group stage matches. The 23-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from Eredivisie and his performances in Qatar will have amplified those noises further. He will hope to keep firing against a United States side that has conceded just one goal through the first three games.
Left-wing: Marcus Rashford
The fourth Manchester United man to make the team and that’s in the form of England’s Marcus Rashford. Rashford has also scored three goals in Qatar and joins Mbappe and Gakpo at the top of the charts. The 25-year-old had been struggling for form but picked things up earlier this year to be selected in Gareth Southgate’s squad and he has unduly delivered so far, scoring against Iran in England’s opener, as well as bagging a brace in the final group match against Wales.