Messi, Ronaldo and more: How LEGO stars performed in the World Cup group stage

In anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the LEGO Group released 11 LEGO Editions sets, bringing Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Vinícius Júnior to life in brick form.

The 2026 World Cup, hosted in Mexico, Canada, and the United States, kicked off on June 11, and after 17 days, the group stages are now complete. All four selected LEGO Editions footballers featured in those games, with varying levels of success and impact.

All of the players have made headlines for their on-pitch performances and off-pitch antics, but how did they each fare overall? 

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi, long hailed as one of the greatest footballers of all time, continues to deliver at 39. The Argentina captain scored in each of his team’s group-stage matches, including a hat-trick in the opening game against Algeria. He is currently the tournament’s top scorer and has surpassed Miroslav Klose’s record to become the all-time leading World Cup goalscorer.

Cristiano Ronaldo

It has been a mixed start to the tournament for Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal have qualified for the knockout stages, but CR7’s performances have sparked debate back home. After a disappointing opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ronaldo responded with two goals against Uzbekistan, before drawing a blank in the final group match. Notably, he is the only one of the four players to feature in every minute of the group stage, despite some suggestions he should be dropped.

Kylian Mbappé

With four goals and two assists, Kylian Mbappé has enjoyed a superb start to the 2026 World Cup. The French forward has once again thrived on the international stage, delivering consistent match-winning performances. He scored back-to-back braces against Senegal and Iraq, helping France top their group. At this stage, Mbappé looks the most likely of the four to be lifting the trophy on July 19.

Vinícius Júnior

One of the most scrutinised players in world football, Vinícius Júnior has answered his critics in style. He scored in all three of Brazil’s group-stage matches, becoming only the fifth Brazilian to achieve the feat. With four goals in total – including two against Scotland – and one assist, the Real Madrid forward will be hoping to carry his form into the knockout rounds.

All four players have dominated headlines and justified their selection as LEGO World Cup stars. Come July 19, one of them may well be a world champion, and holding the real version of 43020 FIFA World Cup Official Trophy.

All 11 LEGO Editions FIFA World Cup associated sets are available now from LEGO.com and in LEGO stores, with prices ranging from £19.99 / $24.99 / €24.99 to £159.99 / $199.99 / €179.99. You can read our full rankings of them here. 

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