FIFA World Cup 2026 Week 3: Vini Jr, Dembele Shine, Lionel Messi Misses Out In TDJ's Team Of The Week | Check Here

The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage came to an end thrillingly with the final round of fixtures delivering drama, heartbreak, and unforgettable individual performances.

Portugal grabbed an important result, and Austria made a remarkable late comeback. While Lionel Messi once again produced a stunning trademark free-kick, the final matchday had everything football fans could ask for.

Matchday 3 was all about one last opportunity for nations to book their place in the knockout stages. Teams like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, Cape Verde, and DR Congo grabbed the spotlight after sealing qualification with impressive performances.

In the end, all 32 teams confirmed their places in the Round of 32, with the top two sides from every group joined by the eight best third-placed teams.

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Several stars stepped up when their teams needed them the most. England midfielder Jude Bellingham once again dictated play with another commanding display, while Brazil winger Vinicius Junior continued his sensational form in front of goal. France's Ousmane Dembele stole the headlines after netting a breathtaking hat-trick against Norway, producing one of the finest individual performances of the tournament so far.

At the back, Portugal duo Renato Veiga and goalkeeper Diego Costa were simply outstanding as Roberto Martinez's men secured another clean sheet. Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi continued to prove why he remains one of the world's best full-backs, while Virgil van Dijk marshalled the Netherlands defence with authority.

Despite producing another memorable free-kick, Argentina captain Lionel Messi narrowly misses out on TDJ's Team of the Week after fierce competition across the attacking positions. Meanwhile, Cape Verde continued their fairytale World Cup campaign by knocking out Uruguay, while Brazil also grabbed attention as Neymar Jr made his emotional return under Carlo Ancelotti.

Cristiano Ronaldo was very ordinary against Colombia and failed to make a name for himself. Despite a decent performance Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe didn’t make their way into our XI.

TDJ FIFA World Cup 2026 Matchday 3 Team of the Week (3-4-3)

Goalkeeper

Diego Costa (Portugal): The Portuguese shot-stopper was exceptional between the posts, producing a string of world-class saves to preserve Portugal's second clean sheet of the tournament. His heroics proved crucial in helping his side secure the draw against Colombia

Defenders

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco): A complete performance from the Moroccan full-back, who was equally effective in defence and attack as his nation secured qualification for the knockout stages.

Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands): Led the Dutch backline brilliantly during their emphatic 5-1 victory over Sweden. His composure, leadership and defensive awareness once again stood out.

Renato Veiga (Portugal): Produced a mature display and gave everything. His rock-solid defending secured Portugal a hard earned draw.

Midfielders

Jude Bellingham (England): The Real Madrid star controlled the tempo, won key battles and ensured England remained in complete command.

Pape Gueye (Senegal): One of the standout midfield performances of the matchday. The Senegal star scored a sensational brace and completely dominated proceedings in midfield.

Riyad Mahrez (Algeria): Rolled back the years with a creative masterclass. The former Man City star was directly involved in crucial goals during Algeria's thrilling 3-3 draw against Austria.

James Rodriguez (Colombia):The Colombian veteran turned back the clock with another classy display, constantly troubling the opposition defence with his creativity and vision.

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Forwards

Ousmane Dembele (France): The biggest star of Matchday 3. The French winger registered the second-fastest hat-trick in FIFA World Cup history during France's dominant 4-1 win over Norway.

Vinicius Junior (Brazil): The Brazilian superstar was simply unstoppable. His explosive pace, direct running and clinical finishing once again made the difference as Brazil marched into the knockout rounds in style.

Yoane Wissa (DR Congo): Delivered when it mattered most. Wissa found the back of the net with crucial goals to inspire DR Congo into the Round of 32 and cap off a memorable group-stage campaign.