The Premier League is a hotbed of talent and a number of players from across the world have taken their chance to prove their worth at the World Cup. Here, using our unique rating system, we run through the best performing Premier League players in Russia…
10. Harry Maguire - England and Leicester
Harry Maguire won the nation’s heart with a man of the match display in England’s 2-0 win over Sweden. The Leicester centre-back powered in a first half header to set the Three Lions on their path to the semi-finals, with his performance in the victory earning him a place in the top-rated team of the quarter-finals. The 25-year-old has excelled for England this summer, winning more aerial duels (33) than any other defender, with a WhoScored.com rating of 7.43 the 10th best of all Premier League players at the tournament.
.@HarryMaguire93: Man of the Match vs #SWE
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 7, 2018
Maguire headed home his first ever England goal, while also winning a match-high 10 aerial duels
Full player ratings: https://t.co/yo26X1GP6W pic.twitter.com/U8OEUj8OKq
9. Son Heung-Min - South Korea and Tottenham
South Korea may have exited the World Cup at the group stages, but not before springing a huge upset in a 2-0 win over Germany. Son Heung-Min is the poster boy for South Korean football and he proved why in his three appearances. He scored two of the Taegeuk Warriors’ three goals, including a sumptuous curling effort against Mexico, and returned averages of two key passes and three successful dribbles per game to gain a WhoScored.com rating of 7.43.
8. Gylfi Sigurdsson - Iceland and Everton
Iceland were unable to match their Euro 2016 exploits, but they still put in a good account of themselves in Russia, with a 1-1 draw with powerhouse Argentina on their World Cup debut a notable achievement. Creative lynchpin Gylfi Sigurdsson did all he could to help Iceland to the knockout stages, but it was all in vein. Nevertheless, the Everton star, who had little preparation for the tournament owing to a knee injury, impressed, scoring one and returning an average of 3.7 successful dribbles per game, that contributing to a WhoScored.com rating of 7.44.
7. Kasper Schmeichel - Denmark and Leicester
The second Leicester player to make the cut, Kasper Schmeichel is currently the second highest rated goalkeeper at the World Cup with a WhoScored.com rating of 7.51. The Denmark shotstopper has made 17 saves so far and earned the man of the match award in the 1-0 win over Peru and the eventual shootout defeat to Croatia, a match in which he made three penalty stops, one of which was to deny Luka Modric in extra time that took the game to penalties.
6. Romelu Lukaku - Belgium and Manchester United
Having scored four goals in group stage wins over Panama and Tunisia, Romelu Lukaku is yet to hit the back of the net in the knockout rounds, but that isn’t to say he hasn’t impressed over the duration of the competition. He registered the assist for Kevin De Bruyne’s goal in the 2-1 win over Brazil that setup Belgium’s semi-final meeting with France and has returned averages of one key pass and 1.3 successful dribbles per game to earn a WhoScored.com rating of 7.68.
5. Wilfred Ndidi - Nigeria and Leicester
Wrapping up the Leicester contingent and impressing at the World Cup is midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, who played a huge role in Nigeria’s attempts to secure safe passage to the knockout stages. The 21-year-old was at his ball winning best in the group stages as he made a whopping five tackles and four interceptions per game, this coming despite fears he would miss the World Cup due to a hamstring injury. All in all his performances have earned him a WhoScored.com rating of 7.77, with Ndidi hugely influential in the middle of the park.
4. Kevin De Bruyne - Belgium and Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne scored the vital goal that sent Belgium into the semi-finals, that a fine effort that arrowed past Alisson and into the bottom corner. With an additional one assist to his name, some may feel the Manchester City man needs to up his output in front of goal. However, De Bruyne has already created more clear-cut goalscoring opportunities (4) than any other player at the World Cup, while four key passes per game is a return not to be scoffed at. All in all, it’s seen De Bruyne earn a WhoScored.com rating of 7.79.
3. Kieran Trippier - England and Tottenham
Pipping De Bruyne to a podium spot is England defender Kieran Trippier. Pushed into a more advanced wing-back role, the 27-year-old has taken to the tournament like a duck to water. His 13 key passes is one of the best in the competition so far, while no player has made more accurate crosses than the Tottenham ace (11). His eight tackles in the shootout win over Colombia was also the joint-most in a World Cup match, with Trippier carrying out his defensive duties with aplomb. All in all, his fine outings have helped earn a WhoScored.com rating of 8.04.
2. Harry Kane - England and Tottenham
The third Tottenham player, and third England player for that matter, to make the cut is Three Lions skipper Harry Kane, whose fine performances have earned him a WhoScored.com rating of 8.25. He’s scored more goals (6) than any other player, while all seven of his shots on target, including penalty shootouts, have hit the back of the net. Not only that, but Kane is winning 4.8 aerial duels per game and is being fouled 3.8 times per game as he leads the line superbly.
1. Eden Hazard - Belgium and Chelsea
Not only the highest rated Premier League player, but the best rated as a whole with a WhoScored.com rating of 8.56. Eden Hazard is one of only seven players to have won more than one man of the match award at the World Cup so far and is one of only four players to score more than one goal and assist more than one goal, chipping in with two for each. Not only that, but the 27-year-old is averaging 2.8 key passes and an impressive 5.5 successful dribbles per game, with the Belgium captain deservedly in the running for the Golden Ball.