FIFA has introduced Power Rankings for the 2026 World Cup, a system developed under the guidance of Arsene Wenger that rates every player in every game on a scale of 0 to 10 for attacking, creativity, and defending. As of early July, Germany's Denis Undav leads the overall standings with an attacking score of 8.36 and a creativity score of 6.78, placing him above global superstars like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
How the Power Rankings Work
The rankings are advertised on hoardings around pitches and are based on data from football experts. Each player receives three separate scores per match, which are then aggregated. The system is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of performance beyond traditional man-of-the-match awards.
Fox Sports in the US has also collated its own player ratings, with Sweden's Matthias Svanberg ranking third globally behind Erling Haaland and Messi, with an 8.1 average. ESPN uses World Cup ratings to rank Europe's top teams based on player performance, calling it "a bit of fun."
Public Ratings Obsession
This World Cup is the most rated ever, with fans voting online after matches. Jude Bellingham has been star man in two consecutive games, earning a 7.42 rating despite telling the BBC he did not deserve the man-of-the-match award after the Ghana match. Harry Kane scored two goals against DR Congo, earning high marks from fans.
At the Manchester Evening News, player ratings are the first article published after Manchester United games, as readers prioritize them. The trend reflects a broader societal move toward rating everything, from toothpaste to taxi rides.
Historical Context of Star Ratings
The five-star rating system originated in early travel guides, such as Karl Baedeker's series, to help travelers choose attractions. The Michelin Guide evolved from the Michelin tire company, which aimed to lure drivers to restaurants, wearing out tires and increasing sales. The internet amplified this trend, with platforms like IMDb, eBay, and Amazon enabling mass feedback.
Today, rating is instantaneous via smartphones, from Uber to Airbnb. Benji Wilson, author of Rate This Book — How Star Ratings Took Over The World, notes that rating has extended from products to individuals, including teachers, hosts, and even doctors. He warns that it can be manipulated by AI or bots and may resemble a social credit system, as depicted in the Black Mirror episode "Nosedive."
Impact on Footballers
Footballers read these evaluations, and criticism can hurt. Phil Jones has spoken about the mental health impact of online abuse. Wilson argues that confidence affects performance, making ratings a double-edged sword. The psychological concept of "social proof" explains why people are influenced by collective ratings, even if they claim not to care.
Ultimately, ratings attach numerical value to subjective opinions, enabling aggregation, prediction, and betting. As football becomes a product, the beautiful game has become the ratings game.
