Best of the best: FIFA unveils World Cup Dream XI with 11 players voted as the best of the tournament | Football News

FIFA announces star-studded World Cup Dream XI featuring Messi, Mbappé and Haaland/ Image: X

Spain may have lifted the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy after beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in New Jersey, but the tournament’s best players were also recognized after FIFA unveiled the official Dream XI.The Team of the Tournament, chosen by a global fan vote, features standout performers from six weeks of football across the United States, Canada and Mexico. While Spain, France and Argentina dominated the selection after reaching the semi-finals, third place England was rewarded with just one representative.Jude Bellingham was the only England player to make FIFA’s Dream XI despite Thomas Tuchel’s side ending the tournament on a high with an incredible 6-4 win over France in the third-place play-off.

Bellingham’s inclusion comes after another incredible major tournament for the Real Madrid midfielder.The 23-year-old finished with seven goals, the highest tally by an England player at a FIFA World Cup, helping the Three Lions to their best finish since winning the tournament in 1966.Although England produced several standout performers, including Bukayo Saka’s historic hat-trick against France and Declan Rice’s record-breaking third-place play-off display, Bellingham was the only English player voted into the final XI.

Spain, France and Argentina dominated the selections

Fresh from captaining Spain to their second World Cup title, Rodri dominates the midfield after also winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.Spain have three representatives in total, with full-backs Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro joining their captain in the side after Luis de la Fuente’s men completed an unbeaten tournament by beating Argentina in the final.France also fielded three players despite finishing fourth.Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappé occupied the right side of the attack after finishing the tournament with 10 goals, becoming the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice while also breaking Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup scoring record with 22 career goals.Michael Olise has taken one of the midfield spots after producing a record-breaking campaign of his own. The French playmaker finished the tournament with seven assists, the most recorded by a player at a FIFA World Cup.Dayot Upamecano completes the French contingent in central defence.Argentina, beaten finalists after Ferran Torres’ 106th minute winner, have two players in the XI.Lionel Messi featured on the left wing after the tournament with eight goals and four assists, while defender Lisandro Martínez joined Upamecano in the center of defense.Completing the front three is Norway striker Erling Haaland, who marked his World Cup debut by firing his country to a historic first-ever quarter-final appearance while scoring seven goals during the tournament.

Cape Verde’s cult hero gets a goalkeeper spot

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the Dream XI was the choice of goalkeeper.Instead of Golden Glove winner Unai Simón, England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford or France’s Mike Maignan, fans voted for Cape Verde veteran Vozinha.The 40-year-old became one of the tournament’s breakout stars during Cape Verde’s memorable run to the Round of 32 before they lost 3-2 after extra time to finalists Argentina.Vozinha kept clean sheets against Spain and Saudi Arabia, made 18 saves throughout the tournament and surpassed his expected goals against figure of 0.9.His performances have also made him an unlikely social media sensation. According to tournament figures, the goalkeeper started Cape Verde’s opening game against Spain with almost 50,000 followers on Instagram. After making seven saves against the eventual champions and continuing his impressive campaign, that number reportedly rose to 29.5 million by the end of the World Cup.

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The Dream XI rounded off the individual awards after the tournament concluded.Rodri claimed the Golden Ball as the competition’s best player after leading Spain to the title, with Messi and Mbappé receiving the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball.Mbappé finished as the winner of the Golden Boot with 10 goals, beating Messi, who finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists, while Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón received the Golden Glove after conceding just one goal in eight games. Teenage defender Pau Cubarsí collected the FIFA Young Player Award, and the Netherlands were recognized with the FIFA Fair Play Award after receiving just three yellow cards throughout their campaign.