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A month of nonstop football is sadly over. It's been a fun ride with great goals, controversial moments and moments we will never ever forget. And during this month we've seen players stand up and be counted for when their country needed them the most.
Some of the players who competed in Russia will never play like they did during this month, while others are just continuing from where they left off with their club. We’ve seen some truly special performances in Russia.
Here are the top 10 players at the 2018 World Cup:
#10 Denis Cheryshev
Russia surprised the world as the hosts. Many predicted them to be one of the worst World Cup hosts ever, but with an amazing run to the quarterfinals, Russia were only a penalty shootout away from the semifinals. During this surprising run, there was one player who also surprised the world, Denis Cheryshev.
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Before the start of the World Cup Cheryshev only had 11 caps to his name and until earlier this year spent two years away from the national team. But an injury to Alan Dzagoev in the opening game against Saudi Arabia gave Cheryshev the chance he needed. 20 minutes after his introduction Cheryshev scored his first international goal to put the hosts 2-0 up. Cheryshev tore the Saudi defence to pieces and in the 90th minute scored his second with an absolute screamer. In just less than 2 hours an underachieving average player turned into a nation's hero.
With his fantastic performance, Cheryshev earned a start in the next game against Egypt, where he found the back of the net yet again. Cheryshev continued to impress against Uruguay and Spain where he played a key role in helping his side shockingly eliminate Spain on penalties to earn the hosts' first ever win in the knockout rounds.
The quarterfinals was a task too difficult but Cheryshev had a great game scoring another amazing potential goal of the tournament.
Cheryshev earned 31% of his caps in this tournament and scored 100% of his international goals. The man who once claimed he felt more Spanish than Russia entered the World Cup as an outcast, but left it a hero.
#9 Philippe Coutinho
Brazil entered Russia as favourites and everyone predicted this to be Neymar’s tournament. But the 26-year-old star shone dim as one of his teammates lit up Russia. Philippe Coutinho was without a doubt Brazil's star.
Coutinho started the tournament with a trademark Coutinho goal and his performances followed suit. He was the fulcrum of the Brazilian side, dictating play and being in the centre of everything good his side did. He scored a second goal in the next game against Costa Rica. When his team needed him the most a clever late run into the box broke the deadlock in the 90th minute.
Coutinho’s brilliance wasn’t enough for the pre-tournament favourites to live up to their billing, but with his 2 goals and 2 assists Coutinho was Brazil's star. This was his team, not Neymar’s.
#8 Paul Pogba
Eyes will always be on Paul Pogba. After he failed to live up to the high expectations the price tag from his make money move to Manchester United two years ago set, critics were always looking for him to finally prove his worth.
This World Cup has been the best and most consistent we have seen Pogba since his move from Italy. Pogba was key to France’s World Cup, forming a formidable partnership with N'Golo Kanté. He was a different player in the World Cup from the Pogba we normally see, bursting forward and making late runs into the box. He topped off his great tournament with a nicely taken goal in the final.
#7 Diego Godín
Diego Godín was the rock in one of the best defences in Russia. The Uruguayan captain was without a doubt the best centre back in the tournament. Along with partner José Giménez they shut up shop and formed a wall in front of Fernando Muslera’s goal. Uruguay conceded zero goals in the group stage and Godín continued to impress in the knockout rounds.
Two set pieces and a Muslera blunder were the only goals they conceded in the round of 16 and quarterfinals. For all his good work, Godín’s heroics weren't enough to see Uruguay progress further, but the captain can be proud of what he did in Russia.
#6 Ivan Perišić
Croatia's golden generation was never able to live up to the highs set by the1998 side, until now. And one of the stars of this generation is Ivan Perišić. The winger impressed with his tireless work rate, ability to skip past defenders, and eye for goal.
Perišić played a vital role in Croatia going undefended and topping their group, but the knockout stages were when he really came alive. He ended the group stage with a late winner against Iceland and continued that form throughout the tournament. He played key roles in Croatia's tight run to the semis and starred against England as he led his nation to a historic win. A very clever flick with his boot tied the game in the 68th minute and another flick on set up Mario Mandžukić to score the most important goal in Croatian football history.
Perišić again found the back of the net in the final with a sweet strike just inside the box to tie the game, but that wasn't enough to see off France. It may have ended in tears but with 3 goals and 1 assist Perišić was one of the stars of the World Cup and can be proud of what him and his country accomplished.
#5 N'Golo Kanté
A few years ago N'Golo Kanté was floundering in the lower divisions of France, now he has become a serial winner. Kanté was the best player in both Leicester and Chelsea's recent title-winning campaigns and was one of France’s most influential players as they lifted the World Cup.
His performance in the final did not match up to his high standards, but in all the games before we saw more of the same from Kanté. The fulcrum of the team, Kanté’s ability to win the ball back and break up play is second to none. His hard work allowed Pogba to flourish further forward as he did all the ugly defensive work. This French side would not be the same without Kanté in it.
#4 Ivan Rakitić
Regular watchers of Barcelona have watched a good, but ultimately inconsistent Ivan Rakitić this season. But in Russia, Rakitić was one of the stars of the tournament. The 30-year-old didn't contribute too much in terms of goals and assists, only scoring a single goal against Argentina, but his general all-round play was fantastic.
With Luka Modrić they formed arguably one of the best midfield partnerships in the whole tournament. Rakitić dictated play from deep, setting the tempo for Croatia. His quarterback like passes played wingers Perišić and Ante Rebić through countless times while his defensive work helped when Croatia's backs were against the wall.
Rakitić was smooth and silky as Croatia reached the finals and his performance against France was that of a man who deserved to go home with the World Cup.
#3 Kylian Mbappé
The golden boy in French football. Kylian Mbappé truly introduced himself to the world in Russia. His 4 goals put him right up there with the best in Russia and he definitely had a chance to win the golden ball.
Mbappé’s blistering pace was a nightmare for every single defence he came up against, no one could handle the 19-year-old. Against Argentina, Mbappé produced one of the best individual performances this World Cup has seen. And his goal in the final topped off an amazing tournament for the youngster and put him in the record books as only the second ever teenager to score in a World Cup final, the other being Pelé.
The young player of the tournament winner announced himself to the world as not only a young player with potential but as one of the best in the world today. And at just 19 years old the world is at his feet. Russia was just the start for Mbappé. There will be so much more to come.
#2 Eden Hazard
After failing to perform at the World Cup 4 years ago and Euros 2 years ago all eyes were on Eden Hazard to finally deliver the goods for Belgium at a major tournament and boy did he deliver.
Hazard was absolutely phenomenal. Belgium's captain, Hazard, led the Red Devils to their best ever World Cup finish. 2 goals and an assist in the group stages helped Belgium to top their group and although they were placed in the ‘harder’ side of the bracket, Hazard continued to make easy work of defenders. Another assist against Japan started Belgium's amazing comeback as the captain inspired his side to the quarterfinals. Then came the pre-tournament favourites Brazil.
Belgium's current golden generation was always criticized for crumbling under any sort of pressure in big games. But Hazard led his nation to one of their biggest wins ever. The 27-year-old was sensational in that game. The semifinal followed but France’s compact defence was too much for Belgium. Hazard netted in the 3rd place match to give Belgium the finish they deserved.
It took a while, but Hazard finally stood up for Belgium and delivered when the world was watching. He was amazing, finishing 2nd in the Golden Ball race, but he wasn't the best player in Russia…
#1 Luka Modrić
The Golden Ball winner Luka Modrić. What a World Cup the 32-year-old had. Croatia were always burdened with the success of the side in the 1998 World Cup had. With the best players in this current golden generation around 30 years old, it was now or never to live up to what was accomplished 20 years ago. Not only did they match that side, they bettered their feat.
And the talisman of this side was captain Modrić. Modrić was unplayable this month, setting Russia alight with his sensational play. 2 goals and an assist helped Modrić become the first ever Croatian to win the Golden Ball.
He inspired little Croatia to the world football's biggest game and in the process established himself as one of the greatest midfielders ever. A sad end to his World Cup shouldn't ever make people forget just how good Modrić was, a true master of the game.
