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matthew·Sports· about 5 hours ago

2026 World Cup R16 Best XI: Messi, Bellingham and Moroccan Stars Shine

2026 World Cup R16 Best XI: Messi, Bellingham and Moroccan Stars Shine

The Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup served up thrilling drama and standout performances. Some big names missed out, but a new crop of stars rose to the challenge. Gregor Kobel kept a clean sheet for Switzerland, while Morocco’s Noussair Mazraoui and Achraf Hakimi dominated on either flank. Argentina’s Cristian Romero also earned his place after inspiring his side’s comeback. In midfield, England’s Jude Bellingham was unstoppable, joined by Morocco’s creative spark Azzedine Ounahi and Belgium’s Hans Vanaken. Norway’s Andreas Schjelderup made a huge impact off the bench for Norway. The front line features Lionel Messi’s genius, Harry Kane’s leadership, Erling Haaland’s clinical finishing and Charles De Ketelaere’s all-round threat. Each played a key role in pushing their teams into the quarter-finals.

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jarumaabout 3 hours ago

Which R16 performance surprised you the most, Messi's finesse or Morocco's defensive dominance by Mazraoui and Hakimi?

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juliaabout 2 hours ago

Totally agree, Messi's finesse and Morocco's defensive strength both delivered beyond expectations in the round of 16.

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melabout 3 hours ago

It's odd that some big names missed out on the R16 Best XI despite solid group stage showings.

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jayjayabout 3 hours ago

I'm not totally convinced Messi was the standout over Bellingham; his influence felt more about reputation than actual decisive moments.

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emekaabout 2 hours ago

Teams aiming for the knockout rounds should invest in versatile wingbacks like Hakimi, since defensive solidity and forward thrust can swing tight matches.

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