Goalkeeper: Eloy Room (Curacao)

Eloy Room emerged as a hero in Curacao's historic draw against Ecuador, mirroring Vozinha's performance for Cape Verde in the first round. The 37-year-old goalkeeper made 15 saves, one of the highest tallies in a single World Cup match without extra time. His outstanding display secured Curacao their first-ever World Cup point. Room was named man of the match, leading to a significant increase in his Instagram followers.

Right-back: Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands)

Dumfries played a pivotal role in the Netherlands' 5-1 victory over Sweden, contributing two assists. He consistently pushed forward, providing width to the attack and frequently appearing in the final third of the opponent's pitch. Beyond his offensive contributions, Dumfries also completed 8 successful defensive actions, earning an 8,7 rating from Fotmob statistics.

Center-back: Ko Itakura (Japan)

Itakura excelled defensively and directly contributed to both of Japan's goals against Tunisia. He intercepted the ball, leading to the opening goal, before assisting the second. The center-back frequently advanced, participating in ball distribution and demonstrating a comprehensive role in Japan's tactical system. He also performed 11 successful defensive actions, the most in the match.

Center-back: Shoja Khalilzadeh (Iran)

Khalilzadeh delivered an excellent performance as Iran held Belgium to a 0-0 draw. He completely dominated aerial duels and made 14 clearances. The Iranian center-back particularly impressed by neutralizing Romelu Lukaku, limiting the striker to virtually no clear opportunities. Additionally, the 37-year-old center-back recorded 21 defensive actions, the highest in the match. Khalilzadeh's solid performance helped Iran secure an important point.

Left-back: Keito Nakamura (Japan)

Playing as an attacking wing-back, Nakamura was Japan's primary offensive threat. He assisted one goal in the victory over Tunisia and frequently carried the ball from his own half into the opponent's territory. His dribbling ability and quick transitions helped Japan maintain constant pressure on the opposing defense. Nakamura's performance helped Japanese fans overlook the absence of Kaoru Mitoma.

Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands)

De Jong dictated the entire tempo of the game as the Netherlands comprehensively defeated Sweden. He consistently received, distributed, and controlled the pace with accurate short passes. The midfielder was central to ball circulation, enabling the Netherlands to completely control the match and lay the groundwork for their dominant victory. The 29-year-old player was so crucial that he was substituted in the 59th minute, with the Netherlands leading by four goals.

Midfielder: Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil)

Guimaraes was Brazil's sole representative in the lineup. He stood out for his interception and situational awareness, helping his team control the midfield against Haiti's physically demanding play. His timely interceptions and positioning significantly limited the opponent's attacks. Despite his efforts, the 28-year-old midfielder did not score or assist in Brazil's 3-0 victory.

Attacking Midfielder: Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Messi continued to rewrite World Cup history by increasing his goal tally to 18, becoming the tournament's all-time leading scorer. In the match against Austria, he missed a penalty but then scored two goals and created numerous chances for his teammates. This performance showed that Messi remains central to Argentina's play, not only scoring but also acting as a playmaker. All five of Argentina's goals in the tournament so far have been scored by Messi. The 39-year-old superstar is also the only player to feature in the best XI for both the first and second rounds.

Right Forward: Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)

Gakpo delivered an explosive performance with two goals and one assist against Sweden. He constantly troubled the opposing defense with his speed, skill, and effective finishing. The 27-year-old winger also received a 9,3 rating, the highest of the round.

Left Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Ronaldo responded to a subdued opening performance with a brace against Uzbekistan. He opened the scoring and was actively involved in attacking situations, scoring both goals from open play. The 41-year-old superstar received a 9,1 rating for this performance, while Kylian Mbappe was absent despite a 9,2 rating from Fotmob. Ronaldo is also the only player who was in the worst XI of the first round but was selected for the second round's best XI.

Striker: Deniz Undav (Germany)

Undav came off the bench and scored a brace in the second half, helping Germany come from behind to beat Ivory Coast. One of his two goals was scored in injury time, showcasing his ability to capitalize on opportunities at crucial moments. Undav's presence sharpened Germany's attack, especially in the penalty area.

To be selected for this team, Undav surpassed several other impressive strikers in the second round, including Erling Haaland, Ayase Ueda, and Mikel Oyarzabal. Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku was included in the worst XI of the second round, alongside Muslera, Posch, Lindelof, Koulibaly, Al-Amin, Valverde, Arda Guler, Almiron, Gordon, and Enner Valencia.

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Xuan Binh (according to Globo Esporte)

Photo: AP