Find out who produced the best performances in their side's opening three matches at the World Cup in our team of the group phase, with Uruguay and Japan taking the plaudits.

We combine the expert rating assigned on the matchcast and the user rating at 0800 GMT the following day to formulate the team and here's our line-up.

The World Cup may not have reached its business end, but this group of players have already done the job for their sides with Uruguay's Diego Forlan the top performer.

The forward already has two goals to his name and turned out three stunning displays to see his side top Group A, with Mexico's Rafael Marquez also making the grade in midfield.

Japan have three representatives, with Tulio Tanaka and Yuji Nakazawa handed defensive berths, while the inspirational Keisuke Honda joins Forlan in attack.

Yuto Nagatomo narrowly misses out from becoming the fourth Samurai Blue to make the side, with New Zealand defender Winston Reid slipping in at right back, while fellow Kiwi Ryan Nelsen is edged out.

Philipp Lahm of Germany and Stephane Grichting of Switzerland are also pipped to defensive spots, with Algeria's Nadir Belhadj slotting in at left-back.

Algeria goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi is worthy of a mention after two inspired displays for his side but, having delivered three consummate performances for the Swiss, Diego Benaglio gets the nod.

A three-man midfield is constituted of Marquez, South Korea's Ji-Sung Park and the Ivory Coast's Gervinho, who roared into contention after his side's convincing win over North Korea.

The irrepressible Lionel Messi challenges Forlan for top billing, and the Argentine's stunning performances see him seize the final berth in a fearsome three-pronged attack as Chile's Alexis Sanchez and Spain's David Villa miss out.

Goalkeeper

GK: Diego Benaglio (Switzerland) - 7.45

Defenders

RB: Winston Reid (New Zealand) - 7.03

CB: Marcus Tulio (Japan) - 7.08

CB: Yuji Nakazawa (Japan) - 7.25

LB: Nadir Belhadj (Algeria) - 7.18

Midfielders

MF: Gervinho (Ivory Coast) - 7.3

MF: Ji-Sung Park (South Korea) - 7.3

MF: Rafael Marquez (Mexico) - 7

Forwards

FW: Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 7.9

FW: Diego Forlan (Uruguay) - 7.9

FW: Keisuke Honda (Japan) - 7.8

Eurosport