Spain leads FIFA World Cup Best XI, Cape Verde’s Vozinha included
Following their victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Spain has the most players featured in FIFA’s official Team of the Tournament. Three Spanish players were selected for the prestigious XI, which was announced after the global competition held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The team, organised in a 4-3-3 formation, highlights top performers from seven different nations. World champions Spain contributed full-backs Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro, along with midfielder Rodri. Rodri’s impactful performances were crucial to La Roja’s successful campaign, where he consistently controlled the tempo and protected the defence, enabling more adventurous play from his teammates. His return to lead Spain followed a significant recovery period after rupturing knee ligaments less than two years before the tournament. Rodri also received FIFA’s Golden Ball as the competition’s best player and completed 790 passes, a record for a single World Cup.
Tournament Standouts and Key Contributions
France also had three players named to the team, despite not reaching the final. Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise were included in the attacking trio, while Dayot Upamecano was recognised for his strong defensive play in the heart of Les Bleus’ backline. Mbappé, at 27, won the Golden Boot with 10 goals, increasing his career World Cup tally to 22, making him the competition’s all-time leading scorer in his third World Cup appearance.
Argentina, who were runners-up to Spain in the final, saw two of their stars make the selection. Veteran captain Lionel Messi secured a spot in attack after another influential World Cup campaign. He scored eight goals and provided four assists, helping the defending champions reach a second consecutive final. Lisandro Martínez was also recognised for his defensive contributions to the team.
England’s Jude Bellingham was selected in midfield due to his impressive performances throughout the tournament. Norway’s Erling Haaland earned his place as one of the leading goalscorers of the competition.
Surprise Inclusions and Defensive Prowess
Completing the Team of the Tournament is Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha. His remarkable displays between the posts were considered one of the biggest surprises of the competition. Vozinha, at 40, represented an island nation making its first appearance in the tournament. In Cape Verde’s opening match against Spain, he made seven saves from 27 shots, securing a goalless draw and their first World Cup point. Cape Verde advanced from their group on their debut, becoming the least populous nation to reach the knockout stage, and later lost 3-2 to Argentina in the Round of 32 after extra time.
Spain’s triumph was also built on strong defensive discipline. Goalkeeper Unai Simón received the Golden Glove award after keeping seven clean sheets in eight matches, the most by a goalkeeper in a single men’s World Cup. Spain conceded only one goal throughout the entire tournament. Additionally, 19-year-old Pau Cubarsí, a defender from Barcelona, was named the tournament’s Best Young Player by FIFA. He completed 566 passes, highlighting his role in Spain’s build-up play from the defence.
The final match itself saw Ferran Torres become the hero, scoring the winning goal in the 106th minute after combining with Nico Williams. This breakthrough secured Spain’s second World Cup title, defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente introduced Williams and Torres from the bench, demonstrating the depth of the squad that ultimately decided the biggest match.
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Source: channelstv.com
