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FIFA World Cup 2018 was a massive success, with France lifting the coveted trophy after waiting for 20 years. The runners-up, Croatia, could not win the tournament but definitely went out with their heads held high, winning millions of hearts with their fearless victories and free-flowing football. They reached the finals for the first time in the history of the sport, which was an incredible feat.
It was an unpredictable month-long journey in the tournament, as most of the favourites for the trophy faced early exits. Top stars in the world like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Mohamed Salah failed to impress at the world's biggest sporting event, making way for new heroes in Eden Hazard, Kylian Mbappe, Luka Modric and Harry Kane.
You could call it the tournament of the underdogs as the formerly massive gap in talent between the favourites and the smaller teams was reduced considerably in 2018. 2010 champions, Spain, were knocked out by hosts Russia; 2014 winners, Germany, failed to qualify for the knockout stages from their unchallenging group, and winners, France, gracefully knocked Argentina out of the extravaganza.
It was a wave of change in the final 4 of the competition and the emergence of new footballing superstars, as they bravely led their teams to the final stages of the competition. Let's take a look at the 5 best performers for their respective nations in the FIFA World Cup 2018:
#5 Harry Maguire (England)
The 25-year-old defender, Harry Maguire, was one of England's standout performers at World Cup 2018, winning more aerial duels (33) than any other defender in Russia. The former Sheffield United and Hull City player joined EPL side Leicester City for a reported €17 million in the summer of 2017 and hasn't looked back since.
The defender scored the crucial opening goal against Sweden in England's last 16 clash at the World Cup, as he grew from strength to strength with each passing game. Maguire’s commanding presence and dominance in the backline helped dig England out of their most vulnerable moments. His ability to surge powerfully and directly through the pitch also helped relieve the pressure on the team and also created openings in attacking areas.
A big, strong centre-back who isn't afraid of carrying the ball out of defence, Maguire possesses all the traits to be a world-class footballer. He is at the perfect age to move to a top European club and it will be extremely surprising if Leicester don't receive a big offer for the defender in this transfer window.
By being given the opportunity to express his full range of abilities under Gareth Southgate's progressive and expansive England side, he showed his class while establishing himself as both - a rare central defender and a talented footballer. He is now linked with some of the top Premier League clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.
It remains to be seen which club the defender eventually joins before the season starts or whether chooses to stay with the Foxes. Only time will tell.
#4 Phillipe Coutinho (Brazil)
The 26-year-old attacking midfielder, Philippe Countinho, was the star performer for Brazil as he scored two important goals and provided two assists in five games at the World Cup. He sealed a dream move to Spanish giants, Barcelona, for a reported fee of 105 million euros in January 2018.
With all eyes on superstar Neymar, who seemed to lack match fitness and competitiveness, the Brazilian midfielder stood out as the main attacking threat for the side, as he scored and assisted crucial goals for the giants. He scored a sublime winner against Switzerland, the winner against Costa Rica and delivered a pinpoint assist to Paulinho against Serbia in their final group-stage match. Head coach Tite brought the best out of the Barcelona man in a forward, attacking midfielder role.
Barcelona, who last won the Champions League in 2015, will look to the sublime midfielder as they try to be an attacking force in Europe once again. Coutinho will, without a doubt, be one of the most important parts of their squad, which will try to thrive in all competitions next season.
#3 Eden Hazard (Belgium)
The 27-year-old attacker, Eden Hazard, was Belgium's best player in the campaign, as their golden generation tried to live up to their expectations of a strong World Cup. The Belgian squad boasted of some of the best players in the world in every position. He led the Red Devils to a third-placed finish in the mundial, contributing 3 goals and 2 assists to the cause.
The winger started at the tournament with much uncertainty regarding his club future and heaps and bounds of pressure: he was expected to lead his side to the final stages of the tournament. The Belgian grew in confidence with every match and was their best performer in the knockout phases. Cool in possession and dribbling past his opponents with ease, Hazard linked up with attacking partners, Kevin DeBruyne and Romelu Lukaku, in supreme fashion.
With 4 Man of the Match awards to his name, the Madrid-bound superstar has passed the test to join the European giants with flying colours. According to various reports, his move to Real Madrid is just a matter of when instead of if, as the Los Blancos continue to carry on the legacy left behind by Portuguese legend, Cristiano Ronaldo.
#2 Kylian Mbappe (France)
The 19-year-old French sensation, Kylian Mbappe, announced himself as one of the best attackers in world football in the tournament and lived up to the price tag that made him the second-most expensive transfer when he moved to French giants PSG for €135 million in 2018.
With four goals in seven matches, Mbappe proved to be the key player who won France the 2018 World Cup.
With his career just begun, the attacker already looks poised to break the duopoly of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in world football. The French Golden Boy absolutely terrified the defenders with his bursting runs and electric pace at the World Cup.
He had a slow start at the mundial, but with 2 goals against Argentina in the round of 16, Mbappe set his eyes on the trophy and there was no turning back. He became the second-youngest player to score a goal in the World Cup final behind Brazilian legend Pele, as he converted a fantastic long-range effort against Croatia to secure France's fourth goal.
A dream move to one of Europe's giants in the top leagues only remains a matter of time for the forward. He has set the bar so high at such a tender age that he will be expected to perform at similar levels or improve further, setting no limitations to his performance levels.
His contributions at the World Cup earned him the award of the "The Best Young Player of the Tournament."
#1 Luka Modric (Croatia)
The 32-year-old midfielder, Luka Modric, was Croatia's midfield general as he performed brilliantly at all positions of the pitch. With two crucial goals in seven games, Modric formed a sensational partnership with Ivan Rakitic in midfield, one that led Croatia to an unbelievable World Cup final against all odds.
There was no stopping the Croatians, who were at an all-time high after crushing Argentina in a humiliating 3-0 win in the group stage. Modric landed the final blow to Messi's side as he scored a fantastic long-range goal in that victory. He missed a penalty in extra-time against Denmark, but eventually scored in the subsequent shoot-out. He also converted from the spot against hosts Russia in similar fashion.
Getting into spaces between the lines, delivering perfectly-timed passes, knowing when to release and when to hold onto the ball: Modric dished out a midfield masterclass in the World Cup.
He was said to be an overachiever at Real Madrid as he often underperformed for Croatia at the international stage.
However, he led a team that had not seen the knockout rounds of the World Cup since 1998 to the final of the World Cup 2018. His exploits at the tournament earned him the much-deserved "Golden Ball" award.
Who were your Top 5 of the World Cup 2018? Please let us know in the comments section.
