France have looked unplayable at the 2026 World Cup, brushing aside Senegal, Iraq and Norway in the group stage, before picking apart Sweden in the round of 32.
Les Bleus have scored 13 times in just four matches, and possibly have the best squad depth in the entire tournament. For most people, France are the favourites to lift the trophy, even if they’ve only played one team in the top 20 of FIFA’s rankings.
Lamine Yamal, meanwhile, has watched much of that group stage from the bench, with Spain managing his minutes carefully after a hamstring injury threatened to rule him out of the tournament entirely. Even so, it hasn't stopped Zlatan Ibrahimovic from declaring him the best player in the world.
But, when Yamal himself was asked who had impressed him most, his answer skipped right past France's best players.
Vinicius Junior, Lionel Messi and a Surprise Inclusion
Lionel Messi at the 2026 World CupCredit: Jerome Miron (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
In what might be somewhat of a surprise, despite beginning the World Cup as well as any player, he opted for a Real Madrid star, as well as a Barcelona legend that he likely would have always included. "Vini Jr for sure, then obviously there’s Messi," he said, putting two of the tournament's biggest draws at the top of his list.
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Neither name will shock anyone, with Vinicius continuing to terrorise defences down the left for Brazil, and Messi still finding moments of magic in what could realistically be his final World Cup.
Both men make up two of the trio of players who scored in all three of their group stage matches, but the third was also part of his picks:
"Then let me mention Ismael Saibari, he’s doing great for Morocco."
Saibari has a far smaller profile than the two he'd just named alongside him, but he’s already sealed a £47.5 million transfer to European giants Bayern Munich, and his performances at the World Cup have him primed for further success.
Saibari has been a key part of an Atlas Lions side that has impressed plenty of neutrals so far, and for Yamal to put him in the same breath as Vinicius Junior and Messi is a notable show of respect. Even if Yamal’s Moroccan ties might carry some slight bias, it’s been well backed up by the 25-year-old's finishing.
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The Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise Snub
Kylian Mbappe (France)Kyle Rodden/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA
What's more surprising is who didn't make the cut. Kylian Mbappe has been the standout figure of France's World Cup campaign, scoring six times and moving clear of Olivier Giroud as his country's all-time top scorer in the process, as well as overtaking Miroslav Klose for second on the list of all-time World Cup scorers, with the chance for him to overtake Messi for the outright lead if he can finish this tournament with two more goals than him.
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Michael Olise has been just as influential on the right flank, registering five assists. Add in contributions from Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue, and France's front line is statistically the most productive unit at the entire World Cup by some distance.
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For Yamal to overlook both Mbappe and Olise, given the weight of what they've produced, suggests it's not just about who's topping the stat sheets. Vinicius, Messi and Saibari have all had their own moments of quality this tournament, so it's less a case of Yamal favouring flair over output, and more that he's simply picked out three players whose performances have stuck with him.