We’re into the 2026 World Cup knockout stages, and for Liverpool's contingent, it has already delivered heartbreak, heroics, and everything in between.
All of the Liverpool players at the tournament qualified for the knockout rounds, but not all of them progressed to the last 16. In fact, more players were eliminated in this round of matches than most fans would have expected.
One player went out fighting and produced one of the standout individual performances of the round, and one particular Red showed a strength of character that transcends football entirely. However, several others went out with a whimper.Â
Let’s take a look at how the Reds fared in the World Cup Round of 32.
Alisson Becker: 6/10 (Brazil 2-1 Japan)
Brazil comfortably beat Scotland 3-0 in their last group game to all but eliminate them from the tournament, but the last-32 fixture against Japan was always going to be a sterner test.
Alisson strung together two consecutive clean sheets to close out the group stage, but he was unable to make it three. The Japanese team lived up to their reputation as an extremely well-drilled unit and stuck to their game plan assiduously.Â
In the 29th minute, they were rewarded for their hard work when Kaishū Sano raced past Casemiro and scored with a pinpoint low drive into the corner from outside the box. Sano’s shot had the Brazilian goalkeeper at full stretch, but he still just couldn’t get to it.
The Japanese went in at the break with a 1-0 lead, but within 10 minutes of the restart, Casemiro scored with a far-post header to draw level. Brazil had too much for Japan in the end, who tired as the game wore on, and the Selecao nicked it right at the death with a Gabriel Martinelli winner in the 95th minute.
For all of Japan’s industrious work, they didn’t threaten the Brazil goal much. At the final whistle, Alisson had faced two shots on target and made one save.
Brazil will face Norway in the last 16 at New York New Jersey Stadium. Alisson will be up against familiar Premier League foes in Manchester City’s Erling Braut Haaland and Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, and you can bet he’ll have more to deal with in that game than just two shots.
Florian Wirtz: 8.5/10 (Germany 1-1 Paraguay — Paraguay win 4-3 on penalties)Â
Germany entered this tournament as one of the favourites, but they exited at the hands of Paraguay on penalties in the first major upset of the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds.Â
Florian Wirtz was one of the very few bright sparks in Germany's 2-1 loss against Ecuador to close out the group stage, and it was a similar story in Boston Stadium. Paraguay’s Julio Enciso scored to give his nation the 1-0 lead at half-time, and Germany got their equalizer on 54 minutes via a Kai Havertz goal from another Florian Wirtz assist.Â
The Liverpool playmaker found Kai Havertz with a whipped cross right-footed from deep on the left flank. After setting up Leroy Sane’s goal in the last match, Wirtz’s assist here made it three assists in the tournament, ranking joint third among all players at this World Cup.
He led the team in accurate crosses (5), dribbles (4), and key passes (4), but he didn't only impact the game offensively. Wirtz also put in some diligent defensive work, winning two aerial battles, succeeding with both of his tackle attempts, and making one clearance.
After playing the entirety of Germany's first two games and 73 minutes against Ecuador, Wirtz was substituted after putting in a real shift for 110 minutes against Paraguay.
Despite his stellar individual performance, it's the end of the road for Liverpool's No. 7, and Paraguay will be looking ahead to a last-16 clash with France at Philadelphia Stadium.
Wirtz ends the tournament with three assists from four matches, and FIFA rated him as the most creative player in the German team with a 7.37 score in the FIFA Power Rankings.
Virgil van Dijk: 6.5/10 (Netherlands 1-1 Morocco — Morocco win 3-2 on penalties)Â
In the second disappointing World Cup result for Liverpool fans, the Netherlands lost to Morocco on penalties and were eliminated in the Round of 32.
Virgil was solid as usual and racked up some respectable post-match stats. He cleared the ball six times, won two aerial duels, and made one tackle, but the Liverpool skipper will be especially disappointed to end the tournament without a single clean sheet in four matches.Â
It will instead be Morocco who progress to play Canada for a spot in the quarter-finals, and to rub salt in Dutch wounds, the tournament co-hosts may well have been more beatable opponents than the Moroccans.
The Reds skipper ends the tournament with one goal and one assist in four games, and he will now have some time to recuperate before beginning preparations for 2026/27 under new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
Ryan Gravenberch: 4/10 (Netherlands 1-1 Morocco — Morocco win 3-2 on penalties)Â
In Ryan Gravenberch’s third consecutive start at this World Cup, the midfielder put in probably his worst performance, which is disappointing because he started the tournament so well.
He began with two assists in the opening match against Japan, then put in a tireless box-to-box display against Sweden in the second, and then ended the group stage with a good-but-not-great performance against Tunisia.
Against Morocco at the Estadio Monterrey, he was practically absent.
The good? He made one interception and won one aerial duel.
The bad? He had two shots but hit the target with neither, and one out of every four of his passes did not find a teammate — and that is particularly alarming because he played in the middle of the park.Â
He was substituted in the 86th minute to put the full stop on a disappointing end to his World Cup.Â
Cody Gakpo: 8/10 (Netherlands 1-1 Morocco — Morocco win 3-2 on penalties)Â
After a subpar showing against Tunisia, Cody Gakpo showed exemplary mental strength not only to start this game but also to score the important goal that broke the deadlock.
After the news of the tragic loss of his unborn child, the Liverpool winger must have been going through unimaginable mental strain, and when he leaped onto a loose ball to drill in the opening goal, he let all his emotions out in the celebrations.
He also drew one foul and made a tackle before being substituted in the 113th minute after playing almost every minute of the Netherlands' short time in the tournament.
Despite his goal, the match ended in disappointment for Gakpo, as his team lost the penalty shootout with the score still 1-1 after 120 minutes.
He ended the tournament with three goals and one assist in four matches
After spending some time with his family during this difficult period, Gakpo will begin to prepare for life under a new head coach at Liverpool. In 2026/27, he will have competition that was somewhat lacking last season, with Spanish winger Victor Muñoz joining the Reds in June.  Â
Alexander Isak: 5.5/10 (France 3-0 Sweden)Â
Sweden started their World Cup campaign fiercely with a 5-1 win against Tunisia, but since then it has been nothing to write home about: They've lost two and drawn one, and they conceded nine goals while they were at it.
Isak has had the most goal contributions on the Sweden team with four (one goal, three assists), but Les Bleus conceded two goals in three group-stage games, so a goal contribution in this match was always going to be a big ask for the No. 9.
Most of the action in the New York New Jersey Stadium happened in Sweden’s half, as you might expect. As a consequence, Isak only managed to get two shots at Mike Maignan’s goal, with one hitting the target. Aside from that, his stat sheet included one aerial duel won, one clearance, and one tackle, but he also committed three fouls.
Isak exited the competition with three assists to his name — joining Liverpool teammate Wirtz in third place at the tournament — and he scored one goal.
Liverpool fans will be glad their Swedish striker got through all four World Cup games unscathed. And after a stop-start debut season for Liverpool, Isak needs to continue the good rhythm he has built and start showing the Anfield faithful why the club shelled out a record transfer fee for him.Â
Alexis Mac Allister: 8/10Â ( Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde)Â
In what might have been the most exciting match of the Round of 32, Argentina narrowly avoided what could have been the biggest upset in football history with their 3-2 win over Cape Verde.
A team that had never played in the World Cup eliminating the reigning champions — it’s just an unfathomable outcome. It’s an outcome that only really occurs in feel-good sports movies.
Alexis took up his usual role for Argentina, floating in front of the back line and easing pressure off the central defenders. From his deep-lying midfield position, he racked up a stat sheet that included four tackles (the most on the team), one clearance, and one interception.
After 90 minutes of action and the teams still deadlocked, Alexis also rose highest from a corner kick and nodded the ball across the six-yard box for Lisandro Martinez to smash into the net.
Argentina will now prepare to meet Egypt at Atlanta Stadium for a place in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals. Even after playing 120 minutes against Cape Verde, he will surely be needed form the start again as we head into the crunch matches of the tournament.
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