Mbappe, Modric, Hazard & the impressing players at World Cup 2018

Who has earned their place in the best line-up of Russia 2018, which will go down as one of the most entertaining of all-time

#1  Jordan Pickford | GK | England   It's remarkable to think that, before the World Cup, many wondered if Jordan Pickford was the best choice to play in goal for England.The Everton shot-stopper elevated his reputation enormously against Colombia, before excellent performances against Sweden, Croatia and Belgium showed he's world class.

#2  Raphael Varane | CB | France   France centre-back Raphael Varane is now the top-quality defender that many predicted he would become before his move to Real Madrid in 2011.He was a rock at the back for les Bleus, and put in a superb shift in the final as France defeated Croatia 4-2, but his most visible impact came in the quarter-finals when he scored a crucial goal to beat Uruguay.

#3  Domagoj Vida | CB | Croatia   Domagoj Vida's best moment came as he scored what he thought was an extra-time winner for Croatia in the quarter-finals, although Russia soon burst that bubble before penalties saw Vida and Co. jubilant once again.He also assisted a goal in the final, was pivotal in keeping a clean sheet against Lionel Messi and Argentina in the group stage, and he was ever-present in defence as the small nation of Croatia made history on the world stage.

#4  Diego Godin | CB | Uruguay   Diego Godin used all of his experience and his guile to help inspire Uruguay to the World Cup 2018 quarter-finals.He'll still be kicking himself for missing from close range against France, but that shouldn't overshadow the monumental impact he has on a South American side punching above its weight on the global stage.

#5  Kevin De Bruyne | RM | Belgium   It's impossible to pinpoint exactly where to place Kevin De Bruyne, who excelled wherever Roberto Martinez placed him for Belgium at World Cup 2018.De Bruyne's most memorable moment came as his goal eliminated Brazil in the quarter-finals, but his role in Belgium's last-second, counter-attacking winner over Japan in the last 16 doesn't deserve to be forgotten. A world-class World Cup attacker.

#6  Luka Modric | CM | Croatia   Croatia's star man Luka Modric had a star World Cup, finally experiencing an international tournament worthy of Real Madrid's midfield master.His goalscoring showings in the group stage against Argentina and Nigeria were followed up by string-pulling in the knockouts, and he was fully deserving of FIFA's Golden Ball award for best player at the 2018 finals.

#7  N'Golo Kante | CM | France   N'Golo Kante played 90 minutes of every match until the final, when the France midfielder was withdrawn in the second half after struggling to deal with Croatia's midfielders. But he doesn't deserve to be remembered for his (lack of) impact in the final.The Chelsea ball-winner was an absolute machine for every minute of the preceding six matches and, if not for his underwhelming 50 minutes in Moscow at the climax of the tournament, he'd have been in contention for best player.

#8  Ivan Perisic | LM | Croatia   Croatia attacker Ivan Perisic was a symbol of the non-stop work ethic that permeated the Balkan nation's time at the 2018 World Cup.His goal and assist in the semi-final win over England were followed by an emphatic goal in the final that levelled the scoreline - at least for a short while - in their defeat to France.

#9  Kylian Mbappe | FW | France   The future of French football, and now beyond any doubt a successor to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the best player in the sport, Kylian Mbappe had a World Cup to savour.The newly-crowned World Cup winner was awarded FIFA's award for the best young player in the 2018 finals and was in contention for the best player of the tournament. An unforgettable five weeks for the Paris Saint-Germain forward.

#10  Eden Hazard | FW | Belgium   Belgium's best attacker in their joint-best-ever showing at a World Cup, Eden Hazard sparkled with three goals, two assists and an endless number of menacing dribbles.The Chelsea forward was already one of the most-wanted players in the world, but the likes of Real Madrid will only be more enamoured with him after these showings in Russia.

#11  Antoine Griezmann | FW | France   Antoine Griezmann didn't have the same impact in open play as he did at Euro 2016 for France, but his phenomenal impact in the knock-outs can't be overlooked. He scored three goals and assisted three times since the group stage.The World Cup final saw the Atletico Madrid star create one goal and score from the penalty spot in a first half that where Croatia were superior. He earned a World Cup winners' medal for his efforts.