Spain’s dramatic victory over Argentina in the World Cup final completed what has been a tumultuous yet exhilarating tournament, providing us with a number of incredible moments and sublime performances.
As the dust settles, it’s time to look back and discuss the truly elite performers from the tournament from each position and the moments that defined their campaigns.
From members of the victorious Spanish side to star performers from the tournament’s dark horses, Daily Mail Sport looks at SofaScore’s 2026 World Cup Team of the Tournament…
GK: Gregor Kobel (Switzerland) – 7.52
While the Swiss No 1’s inclusion may be a surprise to some football fans, it could not be more deserved. The Borussia Dortmund keeper gloriously maintained the stellar reputation of Swiss goalkeepers in modern football.
Stepping into the very large shoes – or gloves – of the legendary Yann Sommer he turned in a series of standout performances.
The earliest of those came against Canada, in which he prevented a chance with a staggering 0.99 XG. He followed it against Colombia in the last 16, when he was the shootout hero by saving the crucial fourth penalty during the shootout, sending his country through to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.
Moreover, Kobel continued to prove his ability to perform as the ideal modern goalkeeper. Throughout the tournament the Dortmund man maintained a 75 per cent pass completion rate, even achieving an 83 percent and above pass completion rate in the opening three group games.
Gregor Kobel was Switzerland’s shootout hero against Colombia in their last-16 clash
LB: Marc Cucurella (Spain) – 7.09
The first member of the 2026 world champions in SofaScore’s team is unsurprisingly Real Madrid’s latest acquisition. A man who often divides opinion and earns a large amount of criticism off the pitch has been superb on it throughout the tournament.
Cucurella maintained an admirable level of consistency, completing 398 out of 431 passes across his eight appearances whilst also achieving 25 ball recoveries and nine clearances.
His attacking contributions were not minimal either as he was a constant threat to opposing defences down in De La Fuente’s 4-2-3-1 system and contributed two assists in Spain’s 3-0 victory over Austria, the Spaniard once again silencing his critics on the world stage.
CB: Aymeric Laporte (Spain) – 7.40
As is expected the vast majority of the back four from this elite XI are Spanish as the champions only conceded one goal in the tournament. One central pillar of their back four was Athletic Bilbao’s warhorse, Aymeric Laporte.
Now entering the latter stages of his career at 32 there were doubts over Laporte’s quality but De La Fuente was vindicated in his decision to start the former Manchester City man in every game of their campaign.
The former Premier League winner impressed both on the eye and on the stat sheet as Laporte achieved; a 93.47 per cent pass completion rate, 15 interceptions as well as a staggering 29 clearances on his way to World Cup glory.
CB: Pau Cubarsi (Spain) – 7.56
Next up is Laporte’s right-sided partner Pau Cubarsi. The Barcelona man became only the ninth player to have won the World Cup before their 20th birthday and joins Kylian Mbappe in a two-man club of players who have won the Young Player of the Tournament award alongside a winner’s medal as a teenager.
Cubarsi’s composure and quality on the ball – combined with his capacity for brutish and brave defensive contributions when required – reminded fans of the Spanish centre halves that anchored Spain’s 2010 World Cup winning team.
While starting every game for his nation at the tournament this incredible young talent was able to maintain a 96.13 per cent pass completion rate, even besting his centre back partner 13 years his senior. he also achieved five interceptions, 32 clearances and two blocked shots, making the decision to award YPOTT to the Spaniard a no-brainer.
Pedro Porro (left) and Pau Cubarsi track Kylian Mbappe in Spain’s semi-final win over France
RB: Pedro Porro (Spain) – 7.54
Completing the back four is Cucurella’s full-back partner in De La Fuente’s winning system, Pedro Porro. Despite being part of a Spurs team that finished one place above the Premier League drop zone, the right back was crucial to Spain’s success.
Whilst Porro is the only member of the Spanish ensemble included in this XI to have not started every game of the World Cup, his impact was key.
Perhaps the most memorable moment of the grudge match we saw Spain compete in against France belonged to Porro. He netted the second goal in their victory and the 2-0 only goal from open play, whilst also helping Spain to a clean sheet against the joint most prolific side at the tournament.
His performances reflected a keen desire and ability to contribute going forward with the two excellent goals scored against France and Austria but he was no defensive slouch either, with the full back racking up eight interceptions, 14 clearances and 30 ball recoveries across the tournament.
CDM: Rodri (Spain) – 7.76
No prizes for guessing who anchors this star-studded midfield three, as it could not have been anyone else but Rodri.
Over the last four weeks the 2024 Ballon D’or winner has only further solidified his reputation as one of the all-time greats.
The fact that a player who did not register a single goal and just 1 assist can unanimously be the POTT speaks so highly to Rodri’s brilliance in his position, combining traditional Spanish elegance with defensive discipline.
The Manchester City midfielder was at the heart of everything the Spanish did at either end of the pitch, with 11 key passes, 26 tackles and 11 clearances over 726 minutes on the field.
CAM: Jude Bellingham (England) 7.81
Entering the more attacking section of the midfield, one obvious inclusion is our very own Madrista. During this tournament it is fair to say that Jude Bellingham provided the greatest World Cup campaign we have seen from an England player in 60 years.
England’s No10 was world class from the word go, scoring in two of England’s group games and marshalling the midfield with incredible maturity.
It was clear he should make waves in the knockouts, but even the most ambitious England fans would not have anticipated a brace in both the round of 16 clash against Mexico and the quarter-final against Norway. Bellingham’s performances at the Azteca and Hard Rock Stadiums will be spoken about for years to come as the Birmingham-born midfielder wrote himself into English football folklore.
Yes, England fell short in the end but Bellingham’s displays were almost flawless. Seven goals, one assist, 14 tackles and three big chances created are amongst just some of the stats that demonstrate the England man’s heroic performances.
Jude Bellingham scores his seventh of the tournament in the crazy 6-4 win over France
CAM: Ousmane Dembele (France) 7.91
The first member of France’s team to make this XI is of course the Ballon D’or holder and back-to-back Champions League final scorer and winner. With the form Dembele took into this tournament it was inevitable that he would further demonstrate his quality.
Even in a team with so many superstars and egos Dembele stood out amongst the best. Six goals – including a marvellous hat-trick against Norway – placed the PSG forward at joint fifth place in the scoring charts and his link-up play with Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappe provided some exhilarating moments during France’s journey and resulted in two assists for Dembele.
Despite France leaving the tournament with something of a whimper in their semi-final defeat by Spain, Dembele displayed his quality on the major international stage for the first real time and was one third of the joint most potent attacking force at the tournament. Dembele and Co’s stellar performances have given us a taste of what is still to come for this young, free-flowing French squad.
RW: Lionel Messi (Argentina) 8.79
What is there left to say about this man? A genius. The greatest of all time confirmed what we already knew and then some at this tournament.
With many critics saying that the 39-year-old was a spent force coming into the tournament the little man proved them all wrong – and achieved the highest average SofaScore rating of any player at this year’s tournament. Messi achieved his highest ever output at a World Cup, scoring an astounding eight goals and registering four assists.
The little magician provided us with some of the greatest moments in World Cup history: a hat-trick in the opening match, a goal and assist to save his nation from the brink of elimination against Egypt and, of course, two goals in seven minutes to send England packing in the semi-final.
He may have fallen short at the final hurdle this time, however his legacy on the world stage is unquestionable. We seldom see a footballer perform at such a high level so late in his career, but then again Lionel Messi is no normal footballer.
Lionel Messi scored eight goals but couldn’t quite secure back-to-back World Cup triumphs
ST: Erling Haaland (Norway) 7.90
As debut World Cup campaigns go this is not bad from the Norwegian phenomenon. Norway had a tough group but the Premier League Golden Boot winner led his team into battle with a Viking-like ferocity that saw him bag seven goals – including three braces – and also allowing his team-mates to flourish with his hold-up play and supreme positional nous.
Amongst many strong performances, the one that really stood out from Haaland was in Norway’s round of 16 clash with Brazil. With this being only Norway’s third appearance at this stage and facing the five-time winners many felt they were second favourites. However, two excellent finishes from this man late on sent the Selecao packing.
Despite losing out to England in the end, Haaland propelled his nation to their first ever World Cup quarter final and did it in some style. It may have been his first time on the world’s biggest stage but it will not be his last.
Erling Haaland will go back to Manchester City having shone at his debut World Cup
LW: Kylian Mbappe (France) 8.24
It seemed impossible for the Frenchman to eclipse his achievements in Qatar, where he scored eight goals including a hat-trick in the final. But while he may have only got as far as the semis this time around, 10 goals to make him the competition’s all-time goal scorer with a mind-boggling 22 is magnificent.
Deschamps was able to engineer a dynamic attack around Mbappe maximising his qualities. Using Olise and Dembele, the French attack seemed as if all of them played in every position along the front line, unlocking Mbappe’s pace, finishing and capacity for link up play.
Mbappe failed to truly affect the game in a significant way against Spain, however his performances in any other game were mesmerising, only falling short to Messi for highest average SofaScore rating it was another Mbappe masterclass at the World Cup.
