Following Spain’s triumph at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, football outlet GOAL has revealed its Team of the Tournament, with Cristiano Ronaldo notably absent despite helping Portugal reach the Round of 16.

Instead, stars including Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Rodri, and Jude Bellingham headline the lineup after a tournament that spanned five weeks, featured 104 matches, and produced 308 goals.

Mbappé and Messi Lead the Attack

GOAL selected Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland as its attacking trio.

Mbappé emerged as the standout performer, winning the Golden Boot after finishing as the tournament’s top scorer. The French forward delivered braces against Senegal, Iraq, and Sweden while adding crucial goals throughout the knockout rounds. GOAL praised his campaign, describing him as the “King of the World Cup.”

At 27, Mbappé also became the tournament's all-time leading scorer. With potentially two more World Cups ahead of him, GOAL believes he is well-positioned to extend that record even further.

GOAL hailed him as: "Simply the greatest player of all time it's just unfortunate he couldn't produce his best in the final."

Spain Dominates the Team of the Tournament

Fresh off winning the World Cup, Spain supplied the most players in GOAL’s Best XI, with Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, and Rodri all earning places.

At just 19 years old, Pau Cubarsí played a pivotal role in Spain’s defensive success, helping La Roja concede only one goal throughout the tournament. The young Barcelona defender was also named Best Young Player after successfully containing elite forwards including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, and Lionel Messi.

Rodri received the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. According to GOAL, the Manchester City midfielder recorded:

  • The highest duel success rate among midfielders.
  • The most passes into the attacking third.
  • The highest total number of completed passes at a World Cup since official data tracking began in 1966.

Both Pedro Porro and Marc Cucurella impressed throughout Spain’s title-winning campaign. Cucurella, in particular, was not dribbled past once during Spain’s five matches before the final and contributed three assists on the road to lifting the trophy.

Jude Bellingham and Michael Olise Impress in Midfield

GOAL also selected Jude Bellingham and Michael Olise in midfield. Bellingham scored seven goals, accounting for 35% of England’s total goals during the tournament, making him the country’s highest scorer at a single World Cup.

GOAL praised the Real Madrid midfielder, calling him: “The kind of player who shines in the biggest moments and the biggest matches.” His braces against Mexico and Norway, along with his goal versus Croatia, proved instrumental in England’s third-place finish.

Meanwhile, Michael Olise thrived after France manager Didier Deschamps deployed him as a No. 10. The Bayern Munich playmaker finished the tournament with seven assists, the highest total at the 2026 World Cup and a new competition record.

Veteran Goalkeeper and Haaland Complete the Lineup

One of the biggest surprises in GOAL’s Team of the Tournament was Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha. Despite being 40 years old, he delivered outstanding performances, including seven saves against Spain in the opening match and eight more against Argentina in the Round of 32, becoming one of the tournament’s breakout stories.

Erling Haaland also secured a place in the Best XI after another prolific World Cup campaign, while Lisandro Martínez rounded out the defense with a series of commanding displays.

GOAL’s Best XI of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Formation: 4-3-3
Goalkeeper: Vozinha (Cape Verde)
Defenders: Pedro Porro (Spain), Pau Cubarsí (Spain), Lisandro Martínez (Argentina), Marc Cucurella (Spain)
Midfielders: Rodri (Spain), Jude Bellingham (England), Michael Olise (France)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Argentina), Kylian Mbappé (France), Erling Haaland (Norway)

The selection reflects a World Cup defined by Spain’s dominance, Mbappé’s goalscoring brilliance, and another remarkable tournament from Messi, while Ronaldo’s omission stands out as one of the biggest talking points following the competition.

Sources: Znews