FIFA Power Rankings: Kane, Oyarzabal, Gordon Among Biggest Climbers

The FIFA World Cup 2026™ has delivered on its promise of heightened drama with an expanded knockout stage, featuring shock eliminations, dramatic comebacks, and scintillating attacking football. The action is reflected in the FIFA Power Rankings, powered by Aramco, which use advanced analytics to measure player performance across Attacking, Creativity, and Defending categories. France's Kylian Mbappe leads the Attacking category with an average score of 8.60, while Michael Olise (8.31) tops Creativity and Spain's Rodri (7.50) leads Defending. Here are the biggest climbers after the Round of 32.

Harry Kane: England's Second-Half Hero

England captain Harry Kane led the Three Lions' comeback against Congo DR, scoring two goals in 11 minutes in the second half. His 86th-minute winner secured a 2-0 victory and earned him an Attacking score of 8.60. The performance lifted Kane 21 places to fourth overall, just 0.03 behind third-placed Erling Haaland and 1.25 behind leader Mbappe.

Mikel Oyarzabal: Making Up for Lost Time

Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal, who missed the 2022 World Cup due to injury, scored twice against Austria in a dominant 3-0 win. His brace earned him a score of 8.30, lifting him 63 places to 13th overall. Oyarzabal had also scored twice against Saudi Arabia in the group stage, consistently threatening defenses with his movement and positioning in the penalty area.

Julian Quinones: Mexico's Catalyst

Julian Quinones scored the opening goal in Mexico's 2-0 victory over Ecuador, sending the co-hosts through to the Round of 16. The Al Qadsiah forward earned an Attacking score of 9.01, second only to Mbappe across all Round of 32 matches. Quinones climbed 30 places to 11th overall, solidifying his status as a key forward for Mexico on the biggest stage.

Anthony Gordon: Impact Substitute

England winger Anthony Gordon, who did not play in the final group game, made a decisive impact off the bench against Congo DR. In just 29 minutes, he set up both of Kane's goals, earning the highest score of any player in the round (9.00). Gordon broke midfield lines five times and defensive lines on three occasions, with his final-third passing leading to five goal attempts. His performance saw him climb a staggering 177 places to 19th overall.

Alex Baena and Lamine Yamal: Spain's Creative Force

Spain's Alex Baena, who scored against Uruguay in the group stage, turned provider in the Round of 32 win over Austria. Operating from the left wing, he drifted inside to create danger, setting up Pedro Porro for the crucial second goal. Baena earned a Creativity score of 8.29, climbing 73 places to 31st overall.

Fellow Spaniard Lamine Yamal posted Spain's highest individual Creativity score of 8.30, just 0.01 ahead of Baena. Only Mbappe and Olise recorded higher Creativity scores across the entire round. The Barcelona winger, who turns 19 this month, climbed 26 places to sixth overall and was named Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match for his display.