FIFA Power Rankings: El Khannouss, Alajbegovic Lead Biggest Climbers

The latest FIFA Power Rankings, powered by Aramco, have been updated following the second and third rounds of World Cup qualifying matches, with several players making significant climbs in the standings. The rankings use advanced analytics to measure player performance across Attacking, Creativity, and Defending categories.

Biggest Climbers Across Categories

Morocco's Bilal El Khannouss recorded the highest climb in any category, rising 351 places to 24th in Creativity. Bosnia and Herzegovina's Kerim Alajbegovic followed closely, jumping 276 spots to 23rd in Attacking. Côte d'Ivoire saw two major climbers: Guela Doue rose 107 places in Defending, while double goalscorer Nicolas Pepe soared to 19th in Attacking. Canada's Alistair Johnston also moved up 103 places in Defending.

Lionel Messi Returns to Top of Attacking

Lionel Messi reclaimed the top spot in Attacking after starring in Argentina's win over Austria. Michael Olise remained first in Creativity following his role in France's 3-0 victory over Iraq. Belgium's Brandon Mechele climbed one spot to No. 1 in Defending.

Kerim Alajbegovic: Historic Performance for Bosnia

Alajbegovic announced himself on the world stage as Bosnia and Herzegovina reached the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time. The 18-year-old played a vital role in the historic win over Qatar, breaking the deadlock with a scorching long-range strike. He became the eighth youngest player to score at a World Cup and the youngest ever to score from outside the area. Beyond his goal, his link-up play with Sead Kolasinac proved threatening, and his ability to take on defenders—doing so 11 times—created dangerous moments around Qatar's penalty area. The Bayer Leverkusen-bound youngster also moved up 25 places to seventh in Creativity with a new score of 7.15.

Nicolas Pepe Inspires Côte d'Ivoire

Pepe etched his name into his country's history against Curaçao, inspiring Côte d'Ivoire into the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time at the fourth attempt. He recorded the match's highest attacking score after scoring both goals from open play, making him the most decisive player by a clear margin. His match-winning display saw him rocket 137 spots up to 19th in Attacking.

Bilal El Khannouss Dictates Morocco's Rhythm

El Khannouss dictated Morocco's attacking rhythm during their epic 4-2 comeback win over Haiti, using progressive distribution and intelligent positioning between the opponents' midfield and defensive units. He made 20 progressive passes and was the highest-ranked player in the game for breaking lines. The Stuttgart midfielder's ability to connect Morocco's midfield with their rotating front four allowed Morocco to consistently access advanced central areas and sustain attacking pressure, providing the platform for many dangerous sequences. He climbed 351 places into 24th in Creativity.

Other Notable Performances

While Qatar bowed out following a 3-1 loss to Bosnia, the 2022 hosts produced a spirited performance with Akram Afif at the heart of it. He was Qatar's main creator and the highest-ranked player in the game due to his progressive passes, pass threat in the final third, and crossing ability. He made 12 progressive passes and broke defensive unit lines five times.