Best Player of the 2026 World Cup Matchday Two: superstars, heroic goalkeepers and veterans defying time

The second matchday of the 2026 World Cup has come to an end.

And if the opening round had already delivered memorable storylines, the second raised the bar even higher for individual performances.

It was the matchday of the goalkeepers.

The veterans.

The players who almost single-handedly decided entire matches.

It was also the round that solidified some contenders, pushed several nations closer to qualification and introduced new candidates for tournament stardom.

Between historic records, dominant displays and performances capable of completely changing the course of a game, The Offside has selected the leading contenders for the Best Player of Matchday Two award.

Vinícius Júnior (Brazil)

For years, Brazil searched for a player capable of carrying the attacking burden of the national team.

Today, Vinícius Júnior looks increasingly comfortable in that role.

Against Haiti, the Brazilian No. 10 was once again decisive.

He scored.

He assisted.

He constantly threatened the opposition.

And he once again earned FIFA's Player of the Match award.

More than the numbers, it was the way he orchestrated Brazil's attack that stood out.

Carlo Ancelotti's side is still searching for its best collective version.

But whenever Vinícius shifts gears, the entire game changes pace.

Match stats:

• 1 goal

• 1 assist

• 3 shots

• 2 shots on target

• Player of the Match

Brazil may still be searching for its best version. Vinícius seems to have already found his.

Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)

Perhaps no attacking display was as dominant as Cody Gakpo's.

The expectation was for a balanced contest against Sweden, who had impressed in their opening match.

What happened instead was something entirely different.

The Netherlands steamrolled their opponents.

And Gakpo was at the heart of nearly everything.

With relentless movement, aggressive runs into space and ruthless finishing, the Dutch forward turned what looked like a tricky fixture into a statement victory.

Match stats:

• 2 goals

• 1 assist

• 5 shots

• 4 shots on target

Great forwards exploit space. Gakpo practically created his own.

Deniz Undav (Germany)

Some players change games.

Deniz Undav changed the entire story of one.

Germany were struggling badly against Ivory Coast.

Felix Nmecha had been Germany's standout performer up to that point.

But it only took a few minutes for Undav to completely rewrite the script.

Coming off the bench in the 60th minute, the striker inspired the comeback and put Germany in a commanding position within the group.

Three shots.

Three shots on target.

Two goals.

One comeback.

A qualification campaign back on track.

It's no exaggeration to say that no substitute has had a bigger impact on a World Cup match so far.

Undav has gone from a questioned squad player to Germany's ultimate super-sub, giving Julian Nagelsmann a very welcome selection headache.

Eloy Room (Curaçao)

There are matches where a goalkeeper is important.

And there are matches where he becomes an impenetrable wall.

This was one of those nights.

Against Ecuador, Curaçao spent long stretches pinned back.

Yet they walked away with a draw that could reshape the entire outlook of Group E.

The numbers are remarkable:

• 15 saves

• 10 saves inside the box

• Clean sheet

• Player of the Match

It was, without exaggeration, one of the greatest goalkeeping performances seen at a World Cup in recent years.

Some nights become part of football history. This was certainly one of them for Eloy Room.

Ayase Ueda (Japan)

Japan arrived at the World Cup carrying significant expectations.

So far, they have lived up to them.

The 4-0 victory over Tunisia reinforced the belief that the Japanese could become one of the tournament's surprise packages.

At the center of it all was Ayase Ueda.

The striker was directly involved in three goals and delivered a complete centre-forward performance.

He moved intelligently.

Created chances.

Finished clinically.

And ultimately decided the match.

Match stats:

• 2 goals

• 1 assist

• 5 shots

• 3 shots on target

• 2 key passes

Japan thrives as a collective. Ueda was the face of that collective strength.

Alireza Beiranvand (Iran)

If Eloy Room delivered a historic performance, Beiranvand wasn't far behind.

The Iranian goalkeeper was simply unbeatable against Belgium.

In a match where Iran spent long periods without possession, Beiranvand kept his nation alive every time Belgium threatened.

Match stats:

• 7 saves

• 7 saves from inside the box

• Clean sheet

• Player of the Match

All of this came amid the logistical and political difficulties Iran has faced throughout the tournament.

Yet they remain firmly in contention for a place in the knockout rounds.

Great goalkeepers don't just prevent goals. They keep dreams alive.

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Another matchday.

Another historic performance.

Another chapter written by Lionel Messi.

Against Denmark, the Argentine legend added yet another page to a career that continues to defy every possible limit.

The night began with a missed penalty.

It ended with a place in World Cup history.

With two goals in Argentina's victory, Messi became the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Miroslav Klose.

Match stats:

• 2 goals

• 7 shots

• 4 shots on target

• 2 big chances created

At 38 years old, Messi is still deciding matches. Now he's rewriting World Cup history too.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

If Messi made history for Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo answered in the way he has for more than two decades.

By scoring goals.

Portugal's 5-0 win over Uzbekistan saw the No. 7 find the net twice.

But the numbers only tell part of the story.

Those two goals made Cristiano the first player in football history to score in six different World Cups.

A record that may stand untouched for many years.

Match stats:

• 2 goals

• 7 shots

• 5 shots on target

Some records are broken. Others seem destined to last forever.

And what about you?

Matchday Two of the World Cup delivered memorable performances.

Vinícius shined once again.

Gakpo led a dominant victory.

Undav changed a game from the bench.

Room and Beiranvand produced historic goalkeeping displays.

Ueda spearheaded another Japanese triumph.

Messi broke a record that once seemed untouchable.

Cristiano added another chapter to his legendary career.

Now we want to hear from you.

🗳️ Who was the best player of Matchday Two at the 2026 World Cup?