Fans select top performers for World Cup Dream XI
The FIFA World Cup 2026 has concluded, with Spain lifting the trophy after a 1-0 extra-time victory against Argentina in New Jersey. Following the tournament, FIFA has revealed its official Dream XI, a selection of the best-performing players chosen through a global fan vote. This team highlights standout individuals from the six weeks of football across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The selection is heavily influenced by the teams that reached the semi-finals, with Spain, France, and Argentina dominating the lineup. Despite England securing a third-place finish, only one player from their squad made it into the Dream XI.
Key players from top nations
Spain, the champions, have three representatives in the Dream XI. Midfielder Rodri, who captained Spain to their second World Cup title and also won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, leads the midfield. He is joined by full-backs Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro. Luis de la Fuente‘s team completed an unbeaten tournament, culminating in their victory over Argentina in the final.
France, despite finishing fourth, also contributes three players to the Dream XI. Kylian Mbappé, the Golden Boot winner with 10 goals, occupies the right side of the attack. He became the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice and surpassed Lionel Messi‘s all-time World Cup scoring record with 22 career goals. Midfielder Michael Olise, who recorded seven assists during the tournament, and central defender Dayot Upamecano complete the French contingent.
Beaten finalists Argentina have two players in the Dream XI. Lionel Messi, who finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists, is featured on the left wing. Defender Lisandro Martínez partners Upamecano in central defence.
England’s sole representative and other notable inclusions
Jude Bellingham is the only England player to be included in FIFA‘s Dream XI. His selection follows another strong major tournament performance for the Real Madrid midfielder. Bellingham scored seven goals, the highest tally ever recorded by an England player at a single FIFA World Cup, contributing to the Three Lions‘ best finish since their 1966 triumph. This comes despite other notable performances from England players, including Bukayo Saka‘s hat-trick against France and Declan Rice‘s display in the third-place play-off match, which England won 6-4 against France.
Completing the front three is Norway striker Erling Haaland. Making his World Cup debut, Haaland helped his country reach their first-ever quarter-final appearance, scoring seven goals during the tournament.
One of the most surprising inclusions in the Dream XI is Cape Verde veteran goalkeeper Vozinha. Fans voted for Vozinha over other prominent goalkeepers such as Golden Glove winner Unai Simón, England‘s Jordan Pickford, or France‘s Mike Maignan. The 40-year-old goalkeeper emerged as a breakout star during Cape Verde‘s journey to the Round of 32, where they narrowly lost 3-2 after extra time to eventual finalists Argentina. Vozinha kept clean sheets against both Spain and Saudi Arabia, making 18 saves and outperforming his expected goals against figure by 0.9. His performances also garnered significant attention on social media, with his Instagram followers reportedly surging to 29.5 million by the end of the World Cup from approximately 50,000 at the start of the tournament.
Individual honours and awards
The Dream XI announcement follows the distribution of other individual honours. Rodri received the Golden Ball as the competition’s best player, with Messi and Mbappé earning the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball respectively. Mbappé was the Golden Boot winner with 10 goals, while Messi finished with eight goals and four assists. Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón was awarded the Golden Glove after conceding only one goal in eight matches. Additionally, teenage defender Pau Cubarsí collected the FIFA Young Player Award, and the Netherlands received the FIFA Fair Play Award for accumulating only three yellow cards throughout their campaign.
The shortlist for the best player vote included nine stars: Rodri, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele, and Vozinha.
Mbappé‘s ability to perform in high-pressure matches and his consistent goal-scoring make him a significant figure in world football. Bellingham‘s contributions included crucial goals and a strong presence in midfield, earning him the Bronze Boot. Ousmane Dembele played a key role in France‘s attack with his dribbling, pace, and creativity. Haaland spearheaded Norway‘s memorable run to the quarter-finals as one of the tournament’s leading scorers. Harry Kane, England‘s captain, inspired his side to a third-place finish with decisive performances. Messi, at 39, guided Argentina to the final, securing the Silver Ball and Silver Boot. Vozinha‘s heroic saves helped Cape Verde reach the knockout stage. Rodri, the captain of Spain, dictated the tempo of matches and was named the Golden Ball winner. Lamine Yamal, a teenage sensation, showcased fearless dribbling and creativity throughout Spain‘s title-winning campaign.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Dream XI is comprised of Vozinha as goalkeeper; Pedro Porro, Lisandro Martínez, Dayot Upamecano, and Marc Cucurella in defence; Rodri, Michael Olise, and Jude Bellingham in midfield; and Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappé in attack.
The tournament concluded with Spain‘s victory over Argentina.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
