The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already passed the round of 16 and, while the eight qualified teams prepare the fight for the title, another debate is beginning to gain prominence among fans: which has been the best goal of the tournament so far.
Through FIFA Playthe governing body of football keeps the voting open to choose the best score of the championship, a dynamic that has been incorporating outstanding goals from the group stage and the knockout rounds as the competition progresses.
Beyond the popular choice, the tournament route allows us to review some of the executions that have attracted the most attention due to their technical quality, creativity and competitive context.
What was taken into account?
For this analysis, Free press reviewed the official videos published by FIFA and evaluated the annotations included in the official voting platform using five technical criteria:
- Technique: degree of difficulty of execution.
- Construction: individual or collective elaboration of the play.
- Definition: precision and quality of the finish.
- Context: importance of the goal within the match.
- Aesthetics: visual impact and spectacularity.
Rather than establishing a definitive winner, the objective is to explain why certain actions stand out from a football point of view.
Lionel Messi: precision in small spaces
Among the notable annotations on the official FIFA platform is that of Lionel Messi against Egypt in the round of 16.
The Argentine captain resolved a highly difficult action through oriented control in a small space and a practically immediate cross shot towards the corner. The speed of execution and technical precision make the play one of the most refined in the championship.
Kaishū Sano: a complete individual action
Among the actions highlighted by FIFA also appears the Japanese goal Kaishu Sano against Brazil.
The play brings together recovery of the ball, driving at speed to overcome rivals and a definition from mid-distance, an unusual combination that stands out for the amount of technical resources used in the same sequence.
Sidny Lopes Cabral: power from the front
Another of the goals included in the official platform corresponds to the Cape Verdean Sidny Lopes Cabral.
After creating space in front of the Argentine defense, he executed a powerful shot that ended in the upper corner, an action that stands out for the precision and violence of the hit.
Mbappé and Haaland also appear among the highlights
The official FIFA platform also includes the goal of Kylian Mbappéwhose powerful shot from outside the area against Senegal combines power, placement and speed of execution.
Another recurring candidate is Erling Haalandwho once again demonstrated his ability as a finisher against Brazil. The Norwegian striker controlled a ball into space, made two contacts and finished powerfully to beat the Brazilian goalkeeper.
Ounahi and Quiñones complete the technical variety
Among the notable plays is also that of the Moroccan Azzedine Ounahiwho culminated a strategic action born in a free kick executed by Achraf Hakimi. The midfielder finished off with a first attempt from outside the area to surprise the Canadian defense.
Likewise, the platform incorporates the Mexican’s goal Julian Quiñonesauthor of a long drive at speed against Ecuador before defining with power, an action that reflects the effectiveness of quick transitions and vertical play.
A debate that will remain open
FIFA voting will remain active as the championship progresses and will continue to incorporate new scores as the quarterfinals, semifinals and final are played.
Therefore, any assessment made at this time should be understood as a partial snapshot of the tournament.
Beyond the result of the vote, the scores selected by FIFA reflect the technical variety that the 2026 World Cup has left until the quarterfinals: long-distance shots, individual actions, collective plays and highly precise definitions that fuel the debate about which has been the best goal of the tournament so far.
Fountain: Analysis of Free press prepared based on the official videos and the platform FIFA Playwhere FIFA keeps the voting open to choose the best goal of the 2026 World Cup.