Mbappé, Cucurella, and Bellingham feature in World Cup Best XI selections

By Sanjay Menon — 22 July 2026 — 3 min read

Various selections for the World Cup 2026 team of the tournament have highlighted several prominent players, including Kylian Mbappé, Marc Cucurella, and Jude Bellingham. These players were recognised for their performances throughout the competition.

Key Player Selections

In goal, Cape Verde‘s Vozinha was noted for a memorable performance against Spain, stopping the world champions from scoring. While Spain‘s Unai Simon received an official award, Vozinha’s crucial saves helped Cape Verde reach the knockout stage.

The defensive line saw a strong presence from Spain. Pedro Porro was selected at right-back, playing a significant role in a champion team. On the opposite flank, Marc Cucurella was considered one of the easiest picks, with no winger finding success against him. He was also credited for limiting Lionel Messi‘s impact in the final. Cucurella has been a regular for Spain since the summer of 2024 and is now regarded as one of the top left-backs in world football.

In the central defence, Pau Cubarsi, a 19-year-old Spaniard, was a clear choice and a recipient of the young player award. He was paired with Cristian Romero, who defended well and contributed to attacks, notably initiating Argentina‘s comeback against Egypt.

The midfield was anchored by Rodri, whose inclusion was considered obvious. He captained Spain to the title and was named the adidas Golden Ball winner as the tournament’s best player. Dani Olmo narrowly secured a spot alongside Rodri, having started all knockout games and becoming increasingly vital as the tournament progressed.

Attacking Prowess

The attacking positions featured some of the biggest names in football. Kylian Mbappé, the Golden Boot winner with 10 goals, occupied the left-wing. His performance also made him the first player to be top scorer in successive tournaments. Mbappé demonstrated maturity in leading France past Paraguay in the last 16.

On the right, Lionel Messi, who finished as the tournament’s Silver Ball and Silver Boot winner, was included. Despite his goals drying up after the first five games, he was instrumental in Argentina‘s semi-final comeback against England. At 39, he guided Argentina to the final.

Centrally, Jude Bellingham was positioned as the number 10. He scored seven goals, a record for an England player at a World Cup, and finished with the adidas Bronze Boot. Bellingham’s influence extended to every phase of the game, scoring crucial goals on the way to the semi-finals.

For the lone striker role, Erling Haaland was selected. He was a consistent threat throughout the tournament, notably scoring a brace to defeat Brazil in the last 16. Haaland’s seven goals edged out Harry Kane, despite playing one less game. He had scored 16 goals across eight qualifiers and found the net in 14 consecutive internationals before Norway met England.

Other notable players who received mentions for their performances include Ousmane Dembele, who played a key role in France‘s attacking charge with important goals and assists, and Lamine Yamal, a teenager who dazzled throughout Spain‘s title-winning campaign with his creativity and attacking play.

Harry Kane, England‘s captain, inspired his side to a third-place finish with decisive performances and vital goals, combining clinical finishing with intelligent passing. Mikel Oyarzabal of Spain also received an honourable mention for scoring five times and being a more consistent threat than anticipated.

Source: bbc.com