World Cup 2026 best XI: SN picks all-star lineup, from Erling Haaland to Lionel Messi
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World Cup 2026 best XI: SN picks all-star lineup, from Erling Haaland to Lionel Messi originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Spain may have triumphed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but this summer's tournament was all about the star players who showed up in droves.
The star power of this year's event brought an electricity to both the viewing experience and the conversation around the competition, which got even the most casual fans talking about soccer in North America and around the world.
However, it wasn't always the best-known superstars who shone brightest on soccer's biggest stage.
The Sporting News brings you the best 11 players at the World Cup this summer, as chosen by us, with one in each position to put together an all-star starting lineup from this year's tournament.
DECOURCY: 26 thoughts on the '26 World Cup
SN's World Cup 2026 all-star lineup
4-2-3-1, right to left: E. Martinez (GK) — P. Porro, P. Cubarsi, C. Romero, M. Cucurella — Rodri, J. Bellingham — L. Messi, M. Olise, K. Mbappe — E. Haaland
Goalkeeper: Emi Martinez (Argentina)
FIFA largely got all the post-tournament awards spot-on, but Unai Simon winning the Golden Glove was patently absurd. Emi Martinez of Argentina made more saves in the final alone (11, a record) than Simon did all tournament long (10). Even worse was Simon's distribution throughout the tournament: he hit on just one of 12 long deliveries across his eight matches, an atrocious 8.3% success rate.
Martinez was undoubtedly the best goalkeeper across the whole of the competition. His 20 total saves were joint-second behind only Orlando Gill of Paraguay, and he did so with a broken finger suffered at the end of the club season. A titanic performance.
Honorable mention: Vozinha (Cape Verde), Eloy Room (Curacao)
Right-back: Pedro Porro (Spain)
There was no full-back better at the World Cup than Pedro Porro, who was one of the biggest winners of the tournament on the whole. He was the fifth-highest-rated player by FotMob at the entire World Cup and had massive influence on the right-hand side for Spain, flowing a high volume of possession through him.
But Porro wasn't just an on-ball star, he was also massive defensively, winning over five duels per game and beating opponents in the air 64% of the time. He did all of this without being booked a single time, helping Spain to their historic defensive record at the tournament. Massive.
Honorable mention: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Center-backs: Pau Cubarsi (Spain), Cristian Romero (Argentina)
As FIFA's Young Player of the Tournament, Pau Cubarsi was a monster throughout the World Cup. Still just 19 years old, Cubarsi has developed into not just the best young defender in the world, but a top-five defender, full stop.
He is brilliant on the ball, completing the second-most passes at the 2026 World Cup behind only Rodri, which also ranks as the second-most at any World Cup in history. He was also heroic defensively, winning nearly 60% of his ground duels, helping Spain keep a high line as he defends admirably in space tracking back towards his own goal.
Least xG conceded per game in World Cup history:
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) July 20, 2026
🥇 Spain (2026): 0.29 🆕
🥈 Brazil (1994): 0.51
🥉 France (1998): 0.63
On the other side of the final was Cristian Romero, who had a brilliant World Cup at the back for Argentina. While Romero racked up plenty of statistical numbers, winning a whopping 63% of his ground duels and 72% in the air, he was also heroic tackling in last-ditch moments. His silky touch against England in clearing danger on the ball was impressive, and he scored two monumental goals against Egypt and Cape Verde, both in what would end up being huge comebacks.
Honorable mention: Aymeric Laporte (Spain), John Stones (England), Dayot Upamecano (France)
Left-back: Marc Cucurella (Spain)
While Marc Cucurella had plenty of help defensively throughout the World Cup, as he was deployed behind defensive-minded Alex Baena on the left for Spain, he was a monster going forward. In Spain's methodical system, Cucurella did not create loads of chances for his teammates in front of goal, but those he did create were vital.
He assisted two goals, joint-most of any defender at the World Cup alongside Achraf Hakimi who had nearly double the shot assists (18 for Hakimi, 11 for Cucurella). He also had three big chances created, joint-second in the tournament behind Nuno Mendes. An enormous tournament for Cucurella, who will fit in very will at Real Madrid.
Honorable mention: Djed Spence (England), Nuno Mendes (Portugal)
Central midfield: Rodri (Spain), Jude Bellingham (England)
A fitting winner of FIFA's Golden Ball award for best player in the tournament, Rodri was an absolute machine. He completed the most passes not just of any player at the 2026 World Cup, but of any player in any single World Cup ever.
Yet his influence went beyond that. As Cucurella said after the final, he was the heartbeat of this Spain team, dictating everything they did — when to attack, when to rest, when to press, when to move forward or go backwards. Nothing La Roja did happened without going through Rodri, who looked back to his best from an ACL tear and may be headed towards a second Ballon d'Or.
BONN:Rodri's brilliance stands in contrast to World Cup narrative
Next to him is Jude Bellingham, who was well-positioned for big moments all throughout the World Cup for England. He completed the most dribbles of any central midfielder, won the second-most duels behind teammate Elliot Anderson, and was fouled more times than any other. Add in an astonishing seven goals for the Three Lions, and his influence cannot be overstated.
Honorable mention: Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco), Declan Rice (England), Dani Olmo (Spain), Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil), Youri Tielemans (Belgium)
Right wing: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
While he got the World Cup monkey off his back in 2022, much of Lionel Messi's international career has been about trying to single-handedly carry Argentina as far as he could before the task became simply too great. That is what happened in 2026, as Messi was utterly brilliant for nearly the entire tournament, only coming up empty in the final.
Messi scored eight goals, second-most in the tournament, completed the most dribbles (28), had the second-most shots (35), and by far the most chances created with 26, eight more than any other player. As a result, Messi's expected assists at the tournament of 4.15 xA were far and away more than anyone else, with Michael Olise's 2.46 xA the next highest.
DECOURCY:Messi exit from 2026 World Cup no stain on his legacy
He was statistically brilliant, but also brilliant to the eye, dazzling and whirring on the right while delivering crosses, shots, and passes with his usual pinpoint accuracy.
At 39 years old, what Messi did this summer was nothing short of titanic, and cemented his legacy as the greatest player of all time even with the final defeat.
Player’s SofaScore Rating compared to their Team’s Rating pic.twitter.com/Baw10Lj9gS
— ... (@Trachta10) July 19, 2026
Honorable mention: Yan Diomande (Ivory Coast), Ousmane Dembele (France)
Attacking midfield: Michael Olise (France)
Michael Olise utterly sparkled at the World Cup at the heart of the greatest attacking unit at the tournament.
With Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Bradley Barcola around him, Olise pulled the strings of the France forward line that electrified crowds around the world. Most notably, Olise set a World Cup record for assists in a single tournament with seven.
A record-breaking tournament for Michael Olise 🇫🇷
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 19, 2026
Take a look at his record 7 assists in his FIFA World Cup debut! pic.twitter.com/N0vrEAQ8ft
His passing is second to none, completing 18 key passes, joint-second most in the tournament, and seven big chances, one behind leader Messi. Olise was nothing short of brilliant, and he should be a Ballon d'Or candidate moving forward as one of the best attacking players in the world.
Honorable mention: Martin Odegaard (Norway), Johan Manzambi (Switzerland)
Left wing: Kylian Mbappe (France)
He may not have ended up with the trophy in the end, but there's a significant argument to be made that Kylian Mbappe was the best player on the whole at the tournament.
Not only did the Real Madrid star lift France on his own at various times, he also combined with teammates brilliantly. Altogether, it resulted in a Golden Boot with 10 goals, becoming the first-ever player to win multiple World Cup top goal-scorer awards.
By the end of his career, it's very likely that Mbappe will be the greatest World Cup player ever, and absolutely deserves to be on the best XI despite the narrative around his struggles.
Honorable mention: Vinicius Jr (Brazil), Leandro Trossard (Belgium), Luis Diaz (Colombia)
Striker: Erling Haaland (Norway)
Erling Haaland may have captivated fans with his off-field charm, but none of that would have landed without his on-field excellence.
What was great about Haaland is how he could do nothing for 85 minutes in a game, and then crop up and providing a game-changing influence out of nowhere. When he's on the field, he's a threat, no matter how a game has gone to that point.
Playing in just five matches, Haaland's seven goals put him joint-third, while everyone else on the top of the goal chart had reached at least the semifinals. Haaland was the best striker at the tournament, as he carried Norway further than they have ever gone before.
Honorable mention: Harry Kane (England), Julian Quinones (Mexico), Ismael Saibari (Morocco)