How the 2026 World Cup is enabling the best to showcase their talents

Kognia senior data scientist Rory Tapper shares analysis from the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The World Cup provides a unique set of circumstances for the best of the best to show up. International managers are given precious little time with their players relative to their domestic counterparts. This means that the attacking patterns which modern club football is built on are more difficult to drill into players. Without this training time, stubborn, high quality low blocks are difficult to break down. Often games require moments of magic to set them alight rather than intricately worked moves. Such memorable snapshots of uninhibited emotional release linger long in the memory and remind us why sport has such a grip over the public conscience. This World Cup in particular has seen the superstars come to the fore.

Our screens are regularly lit up with celebrity sightings in the stands but on the pitch we’ve seen Messi, Vinicius, Haaland & Mbappé amongst others showcase their immense talent. This is obviously down to their incredible gifts, but they are also given the best chance to shine through clever tactical set ups designed to create the best opportunities for them. But just how is this done? Using Kognia data we dive into the set ups used by these teams to get the most out of their best talents.

Vinicius

Vinicius Junior won two Champions League under Ancelotti at Real Madrid and the Italian maestro has once again weaved his magic to get the best out of the Brazilian. Four goals in three games to kick off the competition is beyond expectations, but a system has been designed to get the player into positions where he can do the most damage.

Positioned high and wide on the left wing, Ancelotti has constantly been able to isolate him with the opposition full back in 1v1 situations (7.02 take-ons p90, 96th percentile of all attacking players) and with his dribbling skill this exposes even the best full backs. 

Brazil create this space by using a winger on the opposite flank who offers a similar threat (Raphinha & Rayan have 11 dribbles between them over the three group games) and Cunha who drops deep (12.35 receptions between the lines P90, 99th percentile). Lucas Paqueta is most famous for his assist in the Conference League final for West Ham*, and with two ball winners next to him is given freedom between the lines to execute similar passes. Casemiro wins the ball back frequently for Brazil (5.33 recoveries P90 & 9.24 interceptions, both above the 90th percentile). He uses his positional nous to recover the ball rather than physicality, ranking low vs central midfielders for movement speed (2.28 m/s) and distance moved (3.22m) when reclaiming possession while Guimaraes provides the engine (covering 11.1k P90, 28/158 for midfielders). 

The rotation and quality throughout allows Brazil to build up centrally (66% of their game goes through the centre of the pitch in the middle third) and pulls defensive opponents out of position, creating the space out wide for Vinicius in the final third. Meanwhile Douglas Santos at left back covers a lot of ground (82nd percentile for LBs) and provides width on the left flank, ranking 74th percentile for opposite channel width v left backs, providing a stable foundation on the left to allow Vinicius to sparkle.

Moreover, Ancelotti has also managed to get Vinicius running behind the defensive line on multiple occasions (6.41 P90, 81st percentile). This duel threat of movement in behind and dribbling from deeper gives Brazil attacking flexibility and Vinicius has benefited to the tune of 3.36 shots in the box P90 (77th percentile). Vinicius has managed an exceptional return so far, and the weight of Brazil rests heavily on his shoulders.

Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland hadn’t played in a World Cup until this month, but it took him less than 30 minutes to get on the scoreboard. Norway have built a fast, physical team primed to take advantage of his pace - he has a rapid top speed of 33.05 KM/H - and perfectly executed runs in behind (2.58 ball receptions after runs behind P90, 81st percentile).

Norway’s team press selectively from the front, with Haaland the trigger. He has scored twice by forcing defensive mistakes, leading to tap ins (1.73 attacking 3rd recoveries P90, 72nd percentile) and this is aided by his team mates who aim to win the ball midfield when the opportunity arises; Berge (6.89 P90), Schjelderup (5.34) & Odegaard (5.14) all lie in the 80+ percentile for ball recoveries, but don’t choose to press much after losing the ball (25th percentile v other teams), suggesting they are selective in their counterpress. When they do get the ball Norway look to go vertical fast, with Odegaard the man pulling the strings, looking to provide through balls for Haaland to run on to (4.22 final 3rd pass P90, 77th percentile). Next to the dangerman, Sorloth helps occupy defenders with his physical presence (46/60 aerial duels won P90, 87th percentile), opening space for Haaland.

Kylian Mbappé

France’s team is by no means a one man band. Their front line is stacked with talent that dine at the top table in Europe. This only enhances Mbappé’s capabilities as opponents are overwhelmed by their dizzyingly skillful front line. First, the platform, France’s defensive midfielders excel at winning second balls and recovering possession. France rank 1st for total ball recoveries (43.07 P90) thanks largely to Tchouameni, Koné & Rabiot & 3rd for final 3rd recoveries (5.64 P90, with Olise pressing from the front almost on his own with 5.82 P90, 92nd percentile) and they, alongside the confident ball playing French back line, are capable of exhibiting total control over the ball. They push the team up field, with a defensive line high on the pitch in possession.

France build up slowly at the back, Upamecano (4.88 P90) & Saliba (60.59) rank above the 85th percentile for passes made, but only in the 68th & 31st percentile for % passes forward respectively. When the time is right however, the French accelerate through the gears at a frightening pace through the more accomplished passers, fizzing balls into Dembele, Olise, Mbappé & Doue who play quick 1-2s between each other.

This rapid interplay pulls defenders all over the shop. Koné (4.11 P90), Rabiot (4.01 P90) & Olise (3.63 P90) all rank in the 89+ percentile in Kognia’s measure of ball progression after recovering the ball. The midfielders do this through fast passes which overcome many opponents, as shown below  The forwards may receive the ball in tight spaces but are talented enough to play quick passes through and around their opponents.

We can see from the data that Mbappé is exceptional at exploiting defensive line imbalances as France move through the gears, doing so 139 times P90 in the tournament so far, ranking 3rd of all players. He often receives the ball between the centre back and full back or in behind the back line, with Olise the supplier in the inside right/central channel. Mbappé has run behind the line 4.32 times P90 and Olise has played 2.54 passes ending in a finish P90 in the tournament, the highest ranking. They dovetail beautifully and once Mbappé is left with space to run at or behind defenders, there simply isn’t anyone who can keep up with him.

Mbappé has demonstrated his array of skills by scoring & creating goals from deep too. His goals against Senegal & Iraq were from long range and he got two assists from dropping deep to supply Dembélé against Norway. You can’t get tight to him, because he wriggles away from you and you can’t leave him with space, because he simply smashes the ball into the top corner or finds a teammate in a dangerous position. He is a defender’s nightmare - and has made France the team to beat.

Lionel Messi 

What else is there to say about this man? At 39, there were questions about whether he would still be able to run games as he has done throughout his career - an opening game hat-trick quickly put that narrative to bed.

Argentina are built for Messi. He is the focus of everything they do and the team selected echoes that. Getting the ball to him in space is the entire goal for the other 10 players. Messi doesn’t move much any more, ranking only 8th percentile for jogging distance and 18th for running - but 97th for walking. But when he does go, he does it supremely effectively. This enables him to receive the ball in areas where he can either shoot or play a final ball into the box and his incredible ability to find space and pick the right option comes to the fore - Messi has taken 15 shots (the most in the tournament) and played four passes to finish (2nd most). Argentina get the ball to him exactly when he can use it best, and he barely even needs to break into a sprint.

The midfield is stacked with players who are able to win and retain the ball. De Paul (4.74 ball recoveries P90), Fernandez (6.15) & Mac Allister (3.18) all rank highly for ball recoveries. This allows Messi to drift into pockets of space between the lines. At the front, Lautaro Martinez runs in behind (7.81 P90, 97th percentile) and often receives it (1.84 P90, 95th percentile), stretching the opposition defence vertically and opening up more space for Messi to operate in, as well as providing options for through balls which are inevitably perfectly weighted.

Showing signs of sparking - Kane & Bellingham, Yamal

There are signs that other big names will sparkle in the competition. England and Spain suffered frustrating goalless draws against Ghana & Cape Verde respectively, but against Croatia & Saudi Arabia they showed the patterns they will need to master if they are to succeed. England allowed Harry Kane free reign to roam (see touch map below) and play roving switches to get Madueke 1v1 against the full back as we saw him do time and again for Bayern with Olise & Diaz. He then arrives late into the box to provide the finishing touch as England seek to get him in scoring positions.

Bellingham, meanwhile, makes runs past the defensive line, the third most of any midfielder (16 times) which pushes the defence deeper and creates opportunities for England to cross the ball using their full backs or wingers. They will need these two to fire if they are to progress deep into the competition.

Meanwhile Yamal has been given a similar role to Vinicius. Stay high and wide and isolate the full back. Spain monopolise the ball with their midfield technicians. Rodri has made more passes than any other player at the competition, (105.6 P90) with Pedri the 98th percentile (80 P90), before they send the ball to Yamal when the space opens up while Mikel Oyarzabal lurks in the middle waiting for a delivery, receiving after occupying space in the box 4.21 times p90 (100th percentile).

Yamal scored in just 45 mins against Saudi Arabia and given how much they lacked incision against Cape Verde he will be imperative to Spain’s chances. 

The stars have come out so far in North America - whoever shines brightest could be the man to lift the trophy in July.

*editor's note: it should be acknowledged that the author of this article is a West Ham supporter