Who has the most symmetrical facial features at 2026 FIFA World Cup?
People walk past a big Panini sticker display featuring Korean captain Son Heung-min in San Pedro Garza Garcia near Monterrey, Mexico, June 9, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. AFP-Yonhap
Son Heung-min ranked 6th, Lee Kang-in 15th in AI-powered rankings
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As the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfolds across the United States, Canada and Mexico, an unusual ranking has drawn attention alongside the tournament's on-field action. Using facial analysis technology, artificial intelligence (AI) researchers compiled a list of the competition's "most attractive" players based on facial proportions.
According to reports from Britain's Daily Mail and other media outlets, AI company DreamAI SRL analyzed the faces of select World Cup participants and found that Argentinian midfielder Rodrigo De Paul topped the list with a score of 74.18.
Germany forward Kai Havertz finished second with 74.10 points, followed by England winger Noni Madueke in third with 73.29. Egypt captain Mohamed Salah ranked fourth with 73.27, while Brazil striker Endrick placed fifth with 73.25.
Korean captain Son Heung-min recorded 73.24 points, placing sixth overall and finishing just 0.01 points behind Endrick. Fellow Korean Lee Kang-in ranked 15th. Ronaldo came in 45th with 70.98 points, while Brazil's Vinicius Junior was ranked 46th.
Argentina's Rodrigo De Paul, right, arrives for training in Kansas City, Kansas, June 11, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Reuters-Yonhap
The study examined 150 of the most frequently searched World Cup players on Google and used a tool known as the "golden face ratio" to measure facial proportions.
The methodology is based on the concept of the "golden ratio," a mathematical proportion of approximately 1.618 to 1 that dates back to ancient Greece. The closer a person's facial features are to this ratio, the more aesthetically balanced they are considered to be. The concept is also associated with Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci, who is believed to have incorporated it into works such as the Vitruvian Man.
Georgi Dimitrov, CEO of DreamAI SRL, emphasized that the rankings did not evaluate fame, style, confidence or commercial appeal.
"This ranking is based solely on facial proportions," Dimitrov said. "Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most image-conscious athletes in the world, yet he ranked 45th. The beauty measured by the golden ratio does not necessarily match the attractiveness perceived by the public."
Kai Havertz of Germany celebrates scoring his team's seventh goal during the 2026 World Cup Group E match against Curacao at Houston Stadium in Houston, Texas, June 14. AFP-Yonhap
One notable aspect of the results was the strong showing by German players. Kai Havertz ranked second, Nick Woltemade placed seventh, and Jonathan Tah came in eighth, meaning three German players finished inside the top eight.
Meanwhile, the score of Rodrigo De Paul, who topped the World Cup rankings, was relatively modest when compared with Hollywood actors. In a separate golden ratio study conducted by cosmetic surgeon Dr. Julian De Silva, actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson — known for appearing in films such as "Nowhere Boy" and "Avengers: Age of Ultron" — received a score of 93.04, earning recognition as one of the people with the world's most mathematically proportioned faces.
Lee Kang-in of the Korean national football team, competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, trains at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan near Guadalajara, Mexico, June 8. Yonhap
Top 20 World Cup footballers according to the 'golden face ratio'
1. Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina)
2. Kai Havertz (Germany)
3. Noni Madueke (England)
4. Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
5. Endrick (Brazil)
6. Son Heung-min (Korea)
7. Nick Woltemade (Germany)
8. Jonathan Tah (Germany)
9. Wout Weghorst (Netherlands)
10. Scott McTominay (Scotland)
11. Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)
12. Joao Neves (Portugal)
13. Nico Schlotterbeck (Germany)
14. Alex Grimaldo (Spain)
15. Lee Kang-in (Korea)
16. Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
17. Arda Guler (Türkiye)
18. Ivan Toney (England)
19. Alisson Becker (Brazil)
20. Brahim Diaz (Morocco)
This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.