With the curtain falling on the FIFA World Cup 2026 and Spain crowned world champions, the debate over the tournament’s best XI is already in full swing.
After six unforgettable weeks of football, filled with upsets, breakout stars and moments that will live long in the memory, it’s time to pick the 11 players who stood above the rest. From goalkeepers who produced match-winning saves to defenders who barely put a foot wrong, midfielders who controlled games and forwards who delivered when it mattered most, here is RevSportz’s Team of the Tournament.
Goalkeeper: Josimar José Évora Dias (Vozinha) – Cape Verde
Vozinha arrived at the World Cup as a free agent and left as one of the stories of the tournament.
The veteran goalkeeper kept two clean sheets, including one against eventual champions Spain, as Cape Verde reached the Round of 32 in their first-ever World Cup appearance. He became the third-oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in World Cup history, behind only Dino Zoff and Peter Shilton.
His heroic display against Spain turned him into an international sensation, with his Instagram following reportedly rising from around 50,000 to more than 29 million during the tournament.
Right-back: Pedro Porro – Spain
Pedro Porro established himself as the outstanding right-back of the tournament.
An integral part of Spain’s World Cup-winning side, which conceded just one goal in eight matches, Porro combined defensive solidity with attacking quality. He also scored twice, including Spain’s crucial second goal against France in the semi-final to seal their place in the final.
Right centre-back: Pau Cubarsí – Spain
At just 19 years of age, Pau Cubarsí announced himself on the biggest stage.
The teenage defender started all eight matches and formed an exceptional partnership with Aymeric Laporte. Spain conceded only once throughout the tournament, while Cubarsí’s performances earned him the FIFA Young Player Award.
Left centre-back: Lisandro Martínez – Argentina
Lisandro Martínez was one of Argentina’s most influential performers on their run to the final.
His finest display came in the Round of 32 victory over Cape Verde, where he scored once, assisted another and completed 109 accurate passes across 120 minutes. He also started the final but was forced off before half-time after suffering muscle discomfort following a crucial sliding challenge.
Left-back: Marc Cucurella – Spain
Marc Cucurella barely missed a minute of Spain’s triumphant campaign.
Playing all 750 minutes, he provided relentless energy down the left flank, combining aggressive pressing with defensive discipline. His consistency was a major reason Spain finished the tournament having conceded just once.
Defensive midfielder: Rodri – Spain
Rodri was the heartbeat of Spain’s World Cup-winning team.
Operating in front of the defence, he dictated the tempo of every match and produced one of the finest midfield performances in World Cup history. He won the Golden Ball despite not scoring or registering an assist, a testament to his influence.
Rodri completed 648 passes during the tournament, surpassing his own World Cup record of 638 from Qatar 2022 and eclipsing Xavi’s previous benchmark of 599, set in 2010.
Right central midfielder: Jude Bellingham – England
Jude Bellingham enjoyed the finest tournament of his international career.
The England midfielder scored seven goals in eight matches, breaking the record for the most goals scored by an England player at a single major tournament. His performances inspired England to a third-place finish.
Left central midfielder: Fabián Ruiz – Spain
Fabián Ruiz once again proved why he is one of Europe’s finest midfielders.
Alongside Rodri, he controlled games with composure and intelligence while contributing at key moments. His powerful late run into the box produced Spain’s opening goal in the quarter-final victory over Belgium.
The World Cup triumph also completed a remarkable season after he won the UEFA Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain.
Right wing: Lionel Messi – Argentina
At 39, Lionel Messi delivered another unforgettable World Cup campaign.
In what is expected to be his final appearance on football’s biggest stage, Messi finished with eight goals and four assists, taking Argentina all the way to the final. He also became the outright leader for career World Cup assists, with 12.
Left wing: Kylian Mbappé – France
Kylian Mbappé once again reminded the world why he is among football’s elite.
The France captain finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals and four assists, winning a second successive Golden Boot. He also became the highest goalscorer in World Cup history with 22 career goals, and the first player since Gerd Müller in 1970 to score 10 goals in a single edition.
Centre-forward: Erling Haaland – Norway
Erling Haaland’s first World Cup could hardly have gone better.
The Norwegian striker scored seven goals in just five matches to lead his country to a historic quarter-final appearance. Averaging a goal every 61 minutes, Haaland was one of the tournament’s most devastating finishers.
Our XI
Goalkeeper: Vozinha
Defenders: Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Lisandro Martínez, Marc Cucurella
Midfielders: Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Fabián Ruiz
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé
Do you agree with our Team of the Tournament?
Who would make your XI? Let us know your picks and tell us who you would leave out, and why.
Also Read: Spain’s blueprint for success: How La Roja reclaimed world football’s summit
The post Team of the Tournament: Best XI from the FIFA World Cup 2026 appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
