If we have just watched these legends play their final FIFA World Cup, the numbers they leave behind are tidy reminders of why they lasted so long. Using Sofascore’s World Cup database, we looked at their all‑time tournament output and the average Sofascore Rating that came with it. Here is what the data says, clean and simple.

Two icons up front

Lionel Messi’s World Cup record reads like a career highlight reel: 34 appearances, 21 goals and 12 assists, supported by 101 key passes and a 62% dribbling success rate. His average Sofascore Rating is 8.27, the clear benchmark in this group.

Cristiano Ronaldo brought volume and presence across 27 appearances, scoring 11 goals with 2 assists, while averaging 4.48 shots per game and 5.11 duels won per game. His average Sofascore Rating stands at 7.21.

Midfield brains and wide engines

Kevin De Bruyne delivered steady end product and elite chance creation with 3 goals, 4 assists and 53 key passes in 18 matches, plus 79% passing accuracy.

Luka Modrić stayed everywhere for Croatia, posting 23 appearances, 2 goals, 2 assists, 35 key passes and a strong 6.39 ball recoveries per game. Granit Xhaka’s World Cup line is built on work rate too: 18 appearances, 3 goals, 0 assists, 4.22 duels won per game and 5.50 ball recoveries per game.

Yuto Nagatomo was the reliable outlet on the flank with 16 appearances, 2 assists, 2.44 crosses per game and 80% passing accuracy, while being dribbled past only 5 times.

Goalkeeping giants

Manuel Neuer logged 23 World Cup appearances with 7 clean sheets. He conceded 21 goals, made 66 saves and stopped 35 shots from inside the box, producing an average Sofascore Rating of 7.12.

Thibaut Courtois went to 21 appearances with 8 clean sheets, 17 goals conceded and 62 saves, including 30 from inside the box, for a 7.24 average.

Guillermo Ochoa remains tournament dependable with 12 appearances, 4 clean sheets, 12 goals conceded and 36 saves, 22 of them from inside the box. His average Sofascore Rating is 7.27.

What the Sofascore Ratings say

Across positions, Messi’s 8.27 average Sofascore Rating leads the field, backed by elite chance creation and goals. De Bruyne’s 7.48 and Modrić’s 7.30 show how control and progression add up at World Cup level. Among keepers, Ochoa at 7.27 and Courtois at 7.24 edge Neuer’s 7.12 in average rating, while Xhaka’s 7.16 underlines consistent midfield graft. Nagatomo’s 6.78 reflects a different role, one built on balance and service rather than headline numbers.

You can dive deeper into every match on Sofascore, where live ratings, player heatmaps and historical World Cup stats keep the full story one tap away. However many tournaments they have left, these numbers already read like a solid farewell note.