World Cup 2018: Team of the Tournament

Forwards

Left Winger: Eden Hazard (Belgium)

Eden Hazard lived up to his dangerous billing

For me, Eden Hazard was the best player of the tournament and could have been awarded the Golden Ball - although Modric receiving it isn't too much of a controversy. After a season with Chelsea where he blew hot and cold, this was Hazard at his primal best - scoring goals, dribbling, making backheel passes - everything.

Half time: 0-0 Eden Hazard is one bad man! 🔥#WorldCup #FRABEL #BEL #Hazard pic.twitter.com/4tUxqMGYSv

— BET.co.za (@betcoza) July 10, 2018

The Belgium team as a whole was fantastic, but they were beaten convincingly by a stubborn France in the semi-final, where Hazard was the only Belgian still trying to get the game back to even terms.

Through the course of the tournament, Hazard created the fourth most chances and scored 3 goals, while providing 2 assists for his team.

Centre forward: Kylian Mbappe (France)

The break out star of the tournament

Harry Kane might have gotten his Golden Boot, but Kylian Mbappe has been the star forward of this WC. Despite players like Olivier Giroud, Griezmann and Dembele around him, Mbappe has managed to outshine all of them - and he is still a teenager.

KYLIAN MBAPPE donated his £17,000 every match fee to charity because he doesnt believe he must be paid to play for his country. At 19 years old, one of the youngest players in World Cup.Youngest since Pele in 1958 to score in World Cup Final. Take a bow !#WorldCupFinal #Mbappe pic.twitter.com/Kg0gNUxZmM

— Tebogo Mphahlele🇿🇦 (@Ms_Tebz) July 15, 2018

Any doubts over whether his move to PSG came too soon was put to rest as the 19-year-old scored 4 times in the tournament - including 2 against Argentina and from outside the box in the final - becoming only the second ever player to do that (the first being Paul Pogba).

Right Winger: Nordin Amrabat (Morocco)

Not many might remember him, but one of the gutsiest performances of the WC

This one might be very controversial and I guess more people would think that Ivan Perisic ought to be here - which is understandable and I have utmost respect for his work rate, but the World Cup is a chance for players from lesser-known teams to have a shot at the limelight, and I personally chose to go with the Moroccan.

Amrabat might have played only 3 games, and neither scored not assisted during any of them, but it was still one of the best individual performers of the World Cup. Not to forget that he was concussed during the opening game and was considered not fully fit to play the second but he still did anyway!

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2018

FIFA World Cup - Team of the Tournament