World Cup 2018: Top 5 players after the first round of group stages

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal v Spain: Group B - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia — Siiiii!

Cristiano Ronaldo. He doesn't need stats to prove why he is the best. Just look at that 88th minute free-kick goal to equalise against Spain. That itself is worthy of a man of the match award.

Even though Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world, not many would have expected the 33-year-old to score a hat-trick against a team like Spain, who has arguably the best defence in the World Cup. But he did and that's what makes him what he is today.

Cristiano Ronaldo leads the way. pic.twitter.com/bvW8MYr9kr
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 19, 2018

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The Real Madrid attacked could score more in the upcoming fixtures and be well on the way to his sixth Ballon d'Or award. Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the World Cup after the first round and could remain as the best as the tournament progresses.

About the author

Dakir is a European and Indian football journalist at Sportskeeda with an overall experience of 10 years. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication, and currently pursuing Master’s in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University, he is a seasoned football journalist who has interviewed the likes of former Liverpool star John Arne Riise, covered the entire 2022-23 Indian Super League season of the Kerala Blasters, and has delivered a seminar at an international conference held by St. Albert's College, Ernakulam.

Thanks to his extensive academic background in journalism, Dakir understands the importance of accuracy and spends a significant amount of time researching the subject. In today’s data-driven world of football, where players are perceived as machines, he prides himself amplify the voices of the people that make football the beautiful game that it is.

He started following football in 2013, and more specifically, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, and admires Jurgen Klopp for his untouched charisma and unmatched legacy. A perpetual underdog supporter, he is a fan of under-fire Reds forward Darwin Nunez and can’t wait for him to show the world what he truly is. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s iconic “corner taken quickly” corner assist for Divock Origi in Liverpool’s 4-0 UCL semifinal win over Barcelona left a lasting impact on him.

When not writing, Dakir enjoys indulging in his guilty pleasure - watching mass commercial movies.

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Edited by Anirudh Menon