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World Cup 2026 Best XI: Messi, Rodri, Mbappe Lead Star-Studded Lineup

The 2026 World Cup concluded with Spain edging Argentina 1-0 in New Jersey, securing their second global title. Although the final lacked excitement, Spain’s tactical discipline and defensive strength shone through, while Argentina’s cautious approach hindered their chances.

Despite some controversies off the pitch—such as referees being sent home due to US immigration policies and Iran’s logistical issues—the tournament mostly delivered thrilling moments on the field. Key players emerged over six weeks of competition, and here is Sports Mole’s selection for the standout XI of the 2026 World Cup.

Goalkeeper

  • Unai Simon (Spain): Backed by Spain's solid defense, Simon kept seven clean sheets across eight games. He made only ten saves but showed sharp alertness, notably denying Lionel Messi in the final. Winning the Golden Glove, Simon was a key factor in Spain's success.

Defenders

  • Right-back: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco): Dominating Morocco’s right flank, Hakimi combined pace and creativity, completing the most dribbles among defenders and providing two assists. His 17 chances created made him the top creative defender of the tournament.
  • Centre-back: Pau Cubarsi (Spain): The teenage defender was calm and commanding throughout, playing every minute and earning Young Player of the Tournament. Cubarsi led all defenders in passes attempted and completed, creating eight chances and helping Spain keep a record seven clean sheets.
  • Centre-back: Lisandro Martinez (Argentina): Martinez stood out for his aggression and composure, assisting Messi and scoring against Cape Verde. Despite an early injury in the final, his defensive clearances and forward passes ranked among the best in the tournament.
  • Left-back: Marc Cucurella (Spain): Following a strong Euro 2024, Cucurella impressed again with defensive solidity and attacking flair. His performance against France’s Dembele included three tackles and no big chances conceded. The Real Madrid defender added two assists and created multiple big chances.

Midfielders

  • Rodri (Spain): Returning from injury, Rodri dictated play with 811 passes, more than anyone else. He led the tournament in line-breaking passes and passes into the final third. Defensively, he won 49 duels, earning Player of the Tournament honors.
  • Granit Xhaka (Switzerland): The Swiss captain featured prominently despite his age, completing 430 out of 470 passes and excelling in through balls. He recovered possession 44 times, matching France’s Upamecano, and rarely made mistakes over six matches.
  • Jude Bellingham (England): Bellingham bounced back from club struggles with seven goals, including crucial braces in knockout rounds. He finished joint-third top scorer and contributed 50 duels won, helping England reach the latter stages.

Forwards

  • Lionel Messi (Argentina): At 39, Messi delivered a memorable World Cup, scoring a hat-trick against Algeria and becoming the tournament’s top scorer briefly. He created 25 chances, the highest of any player, and provided vital assists in knockout matches.
  • Kylian Mbappe (France): Mbappe was the tournament’s most lethal attacker, netting 10 goals to win the Golden Boot. He also assisted four times and created 18 chances from open play, showcasing his goal-scoring and creative abilities despite France missing out on the trophy.
  • Erling Haaland (Norway): Making his World Cup debut, Haaland scored seven goals in five matches, holding the best goals-per-90 minutes ratio among players with significant time. His late brace against Brazil marked a historic moment for Norway, though they exited in the quarter-finals.

Honourable Mentions

  • Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele were close calls, each with impressive goal involvements, but inconsistencies against top teams kept them out.
  • Harry Kane’s six goals were overshadowed by weaker performances in key matches.
  • Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, and Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel narrowly missed out, with Kobel making 20 saves but just falling short of Unai Simon.

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