World Cup 2026 team of the tournament: The Independent’s best XI from historic event

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The Independent

18 July 2026

The 2026

World Cup

is at its final furlong. After all the build-up and a thrilling five weeks of the very highest sporting drama, there are now just two matches left.

Spain

and

Argentina

contest the final in

New Jersey

on Sunday, with both having come through their semi-finals against

France

England

respectively.

European champions

were

ultra-impressive

in dismantling

and stopping their attacking firepower, while

Lionel Messi

’s

side again

launched a stunning comeback

, scoring twice in eight minutes to beat a distraught

2-1 on Wednesday, as they eye a second consecutive triumph on the world stage.

As for

, they face each other in tonight’s bronze final - the match

nobody wants to play in

. But having reflected on the past 102 games, we’ve decided on our best players, fitted into a 4-3-3 formation.

Here is

the Independent

team of the tournament.

Vozinha (Cape Verde)

- If you needed any proof that the

can change lives, even for smaller nations and their players, then Cape Verde’s goalkeeper is that proof. The 40-year-old kept a clean sheet against

on Cape Verde’s

debut and he then gained 17 million followers on Instagram after an international campaign. He then made eight saves in his side’s unbelievable last-32 extra-time loss to

. What a star.

open image in gallery

Vozinha starred for Cape Verde against

(Reuters)

Pedro Porro (Spain)

- Since nailing a starting berth in the knockout phase, the Tottenham defender has been simply outstanding. He scored his first international goal against Austria and finished off the “team goal” of the tournament in the semi-final win over

. His partnership with Lamine Yamal on the right has proved Spain’s shining attacking light.

Dayot Upamecano (France)

- A key figure for

at the back and particularly impressive in the last-32 win over Sweden and their strong-looking forward line. Strong, quick and accurate in his passing, Upamecano played a huge role in France's knockout clean sheets against Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco.

Aymeric Laporte (Spain)

- Forming an outstanding partnership with Barcelona teenager Pau Cubarsi, Laporte has been so composed on the ball and near-impossible to get past off the ball. Has conceded just one goal and has made countless defensive interventions to preserve

La Roja’s

excellent record.

Marc Cucurella (Spain)

- What happens to this guy when he plays for his country compared to his club?! Often so lacking in composure and effectiveness for Chelsea this season, Cucurella is the polar opposite for

, with his marauding runs down the left and defensive solidity.

Pedro Porro of

celebrates after the 2-0 victory against

(Getty)

Dayot Upamecano starred for

Aymeric Laporte has been a key cog in Spain's imperious defence (Reuters)

Marc Cucurella has been brilliant for

at left-back (Getty)

Rodri (Spain)

- The

captain has marshalled a magnificent defence, which has conceded only one goal in seven matches and is his team’s figurehead, both in possession and in leadership. Should he lift the

trophy on Sunday, could a second Ballon d’Or be in the offing for the

Manchester City

midfielder?

Enzo Fernandez (Argentina)

- After his breakthrough moment in Qatar 2022, Fernandez’s penchant for big moments has remained. The Chelsea midfielder headed home a brilliant winner to complete Argentina’s comeback win against Egypt and scored the equaliser from range against

. Is there one more big moment left on Sunday?

Jude Bellingham (England)

- From his wonderful solo effort against Croatia, you knew Bellingham had arrived at the

party. Six goals to his name include two brilliant match-winning braces against Mexico and Norway, with his terrific run and finish against the Norwegians the best of the bunch. Perhaps his only blemish was that he had no such opportunities in the devastating semi-final loss against

Rodri is on the verge of a first

triumph (Reuters)

Enzo Fernandez celebrates his goal against

Jude Bellingham scored two brilliant doubles against Mexico and Norway (Getty)

Kylian Mbappe (France)

- A third

for the 27-year-old and a third outstanding display. Some of Mbappe’s goals have been sensational: a long-range stunner against Senegal, a dazzling solo effort against Sweden and an exquisite curling finish against Morocco. On eight goals, with a bronze final to come, he is also on the cusp of a second consecutive golden boot.

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

- What more can be said about Argentina’s magnificent captain? At 39, he has made a mockery of those who thought his time at the top level was over. From his first-ever

hat-trick in the opener against Algeria, it wasn’t until the quarters that he was shut out for the first time. And even in the semis, he set up both of Argentina’s goals. A near-certainty to win the golden ball, for what would be a third time, a second

would be the icing on Messi’s unparalleled career cake.

Erling Haaland (Norway)

- Led his country to a best-ever

run, the last eight, and looked bang in the mood from the opener against Iraq, where he scored twice. However, his highlight was undoubtedly his brilliant double against Brazil; the first a stunning header, the second a pinpoint long-range strike. The only oddity? His relative anonymity in the quarter-final against

Kylian Mbappe is eyeing another golden boot (AP)

Lionel Messi is eyeing a second consecutive

triumph (PA Wire)

Erling Haaland led Norway to the quarter-finals (Reuters)

Richard Jolly, Senior Football Correspondent

- Vozinha; Porro, Upamecano, Cubarsi, Nuno Mendes;

Rodri

, Fernandez; Messi, Bellingham; Mbappe, Haaland.

Jack Rathborn, Sports Editor

- Beiranvand; Porro, Cubarsi, Lisandro Martinez, Cucurella; Bellingham,

, Olmo, Messi, Haaland, Mbappe

Kieran Jackson, Senior Sports Writer

- Vozinha; Porro, Saliba, Laporte, Cucurella;

, Fernandez, Bellingham; Mbappe, Messi, Haaland

Will Castle, Sports Reporter

- Simon; Porro, Upamecano, Laporte, Nuno Mendes;

, Fernandez, Bellingham; Messi, Haaland, Mbappe.

Alex Pattle, Sports Reporter

- Vozinha; Porro, Upamecano, Laporte, Cucurella;

, Fernandez, Bellingham; Messi, Oyarzabal, Mbappe.

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