Goalkeeper: Luca Zidane (Algeria)

The son of legendary Zinedine Zidane endured a forgettable World Cup debut. Algeria lost 0-3 to Argentina in their opening match, with Luca Zidane constantly under immense pressure from Lionel Messi and his teammates. The 28-year-old goalkeeper received a low rating, failing to make any notable saves and being deemed at fault for the first two goals. On a day when Messi scored a hat-trick, Algeria's goalkeeper position proved to be a weak link in the opening round.

Right-back: Juan Jose Caceres (Paraguay)

Paraguay suffered a 1-4 defeat to USA in their Group D opener. Caceres faced the most criticism from the South American side. This right-back struggled against the speed and penetrating runs of USA's attackers. Many dangerous attacks from the opponent originated from his flank. South American experts noted that Caceres frequently lost his position and failed to provide necessary support for the central defenders.

Center-back: Ellyes Skhiri (Tunisia)

Tunisia began their World Cup campaign with a 1-5 loss to Sweden. Skhiri, typically a defensive midfielder, often dropped deep to support the defense. However, he could not stop the opponent's fierce attacks and was substituted early. Sweden scored five goals, consistently breaking through Tunisia's midfield.

As captain and the team's most experienced player, Skhiri was judged to have failed in his interception duties. He even made an error that led to one goal conceded.

Center-back: Rebin Sulaka Tahseen (Iraq)

Iraq suffered a 1-4 defeat to Norway on a day when Erling Haaland and his teammates showcased superior strength. Tahseen received a score of 3,6 points, making an error that led to a goal conceded and earning a yellow card. Among 710 players who participated in World Cup 2026, only Abdelmouhib Chamakh (1,9) and Sphephelo Sithole (3,5) received lower scores than Tahseen.

Left-back: Matias Vina (Uruguay)

Uruguay was held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia, one of the biggest upsets of the opening round. Vina made little impact in attack, while his defensive capabilities were not solid enough to thwart the opponent's counter-attacks. The 28-year-old defender was substituted immediately after the first half.

Midfielder: Casemiro (Brazil)

Casemiro is perhaps the most disappointing name in this lineup. In the 1-1 draw against Morocco, the Brazilian midfielder delivered a lackluster performance and was withdrawn by coach Carlo Ancelotti immediately after the first half. Reuters reported that Brazil completely lost control of the midfield in the first 45 minutes, with Casemiro failing to keep pace with the game's rhythm. He also received a yellow card before leaving the field.

Statistics showed Casemiro was among the Brazilian players with the fewest touches in the first half hour of the match. Many experts consider this his worst performance for the national team in many years.

Midfielder: Damian Bobadilla (Paraguay)

Like Caceres, Bobadilla disappointed in Paraguay's heavy defeat to USA. The 24-year-old midfielder could not compete in the central area and was frequently bypassed during transitions. He also scored an own goal, initiating the co-host's goal fest.

Midfielder: Luka Modric (Croatia)

At 40 years old, Modric remains the soul of Croatia. However, the 2-4 loss to England demonstrated that time does not favor anyone. Croatia lost control of the game at various points and could not stop the opponent's rapid attacks.

Modric only received a score of 5,9 points, the second lowest among the starting players. Furthermore, he committed a foul that led to a penalty, which Harry Kane converted. The midfielder was substituted in the 58th minute.

Forward: Leroy Sane (Germany)

Germany secured a 7-1 victory over Curacao, yet Sane's inclusion in the worst XI may seem unbelievable. The reason stems from him missing many clear-cut opportunities and failing to capitalize on the space created by his teammates. While Germany's attack was explosive, other players made the most significant impact. Sane played the full 90 minutes but did not score or assist, and his three shots on target did not trouble the goalkeeper.

Forward: Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain)

No player had a stranger performance than Oyarzabal. In the 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, the Spanish forward did not touch the ball once in the first 30 minutes, despite his team controlling 74% of possession. This is an unprecedented statistic in modern World Cup history. The 29-year-old striker played the entire match, taking five shots, the most on the field, but failed to score.

Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Ronaldo entered World Cup 2026 with high expectations after Messi's hat-trick in his opening match. However, the 41-year-old superstar could not help Portugal overcome DR Congo, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Numerous international analyses noted Ronaldo's limited influence on the game. He took three shots, but none were on target. In one instance, he even vied for a shot with Bruno Fernandes from a more favorable position.

By Xuan Binh (according to Globo Esporte)

Photo: AP