ESPN has ranked every World Cup in history, and this year's finished incredibly high.

ESPN's ranking of all World Cup tournaments has placed this year’s edition among the highest in history, according to an analysis conducted by Bill Connelly and James Tyler. The pair evaluated all 23 World Cups held since Uruguay in 1930 through the recently concluded tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their assessment, based on a scoring system with a maximum of 50 points, considered factors such as standout players, surprises, quality of finals, controversies, host atmosphere, fan engagement, goal count, overall excitement, memorable moments, and an "X factor." The 2026 World Cup received 36 out of 50 possible points, placing it sixth in the rankings. According to ESPN, the tournament initially appeared to be a contender for the best ever. It featured 48 teams, delivering numerous shocks, stellar individual performances, and countless stories. Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final, while Kylian Mbappé emerged as the top scorer with ten goals. However, five other World Cups scored higher than the 2026 edition. Ranked fifth was Mexico 1970, remembered for Pelé’s legendary Brazilian team. Fourth place went to West Germany 1974, marked by the Netherlands' total football philosophy, while third place was awarded to Germany 2006, known for Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt against Marco Materazzi in the final. Second place belongs to England 1966, the only World Cup victory for the hosts. According to ESPN, the best World Cup in history took place in Spain in 1982. Italy’s triumph earned them 42 out of 50 points. ESPN highlights the incredible concentration of great players during that tournament, ranging from Socrates, Zico, and Falcao to Diego Maradona, Michel Platini, and Paolo Rossi, and several matches that have become part of football history. The top six in ESPN’s ranking are as follows: Spain 1982–42/50 England 1966–40/50 Germany 2006–39/50 West Germany 1974–38/50 Mexico 1970–37/50 United States, Canada, and Mexico 2026–36/50 This year’s World Cup thus finished ahead of some legendary tournaments, including those associated with Maradona, Ronaldinho, Messi, and other iconic names in football history. The evaluation underscores the complexity of assessing which tournament stands out, given the diverse criteria used to judge each event. The 2026 World Cup, despite its high score, still trails behind several historic editions that left lasting impressions on the global football community.