FIFA Announces Fan-Voted 2026 World Cup Dream XI, Sparking Controversy
FIFA revealed the fan-voted 2026 World Cup Dream XI, featuring Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland, alongside surprises like Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha. The selection sparked backlash for excluding Spain’s Golden Glove winner Unai Simón and Young Player Pau Cubarsí. The Argentine FA argued Messi deserved Best Player over Spain’s Rodri. Seven players from the 2022 IFFHS Best XI also reached the quarterfinals.
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Sky Sports 2026 World Cup Performance Ranking: Messi First, Rodri Not in Top Ten
On July 23, British Sky Sports released a player performance ranking for the 2026 World Cup, with Lionel Messi ranking first. The top ten list includes Kylian Mbappé (2nd), Jude Bellingham (3rd), Ousmane Dembélé (4th), Unai Simón (5th), Erling Haaland (6th), Pedro Porro (7th), Mikel Oyarzabal (8th), Aymeric Laporte (9th), and Pau Cubarsí (10th). Notably, 2024 World Cup Golden Ball winner Rodri did not make the top ten. The ranking was reported by Hupu Football News, citing Sky Sports via X (formerly Twitter). The list reflects Sky Sports' assessment of player performances in the 2026 World Cup, which was held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA Reveals World Cup Team of the Tournament as Baffled Fans Say 'What a Joke'
FIFA announced the fan-voted World Cup Dream XI for the 2026 tournament, sparking widespread fan backlash on social media. The team notably excludes Golden Glove winner Unai Simon and Young Player Award recipient Pau Cubarsi of Spain, despite Spain's strong defensive record. Instead, Cape Verde's Vozinha was voted goalkeeper with nearly 40% of the vote, while Dayot Upamecano and Lisandro Martinez were chosen as central defenders. Spain's Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro filled the full-back positions. The midfield consists of Jude Bellingham, Michael Olise, and Rodri, while the forward line features Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi. Fans expressed disbelief on social media, questioning the omission of Simon and Cubarsi. The voting process involved fan votes after each round, with additional players added by FIFA based on performance. Simon had won the semi-final goalkeeper vote with 45%, but Vozinha averaged 50% in earlier rounds.
Argentine FA: Messi Deserved World Cup Best Player Award Despite 8 Goals, 4 Assists
The Argentine Football Association issued a statement congratulating Lionel Messi and Lisandro Martinez on being selected to the FIFA 2026 World Cup Best XI, but argued that Messi should have been named the tournament's best player. Messi, aged 39, contributed 8 goals and 4 assists as Argentina reached the final. The Best Player award went to Spain's Rodri Hernandez. The Best XI also featured three players from champion Spain and three from France, including Kylian Mbappe, who scored 10 goals to become the World Cup's all-time top scorer with 22 goals. Other notable selections included England's Jude Bellingham, Norway's Erling Haaland, and Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha.
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Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Dream XI Announced
The official FIFA World Cup 2026 Dream XI has been announced, featuring a lineup of top international football players. The team includes goalkeeper Vozinha from Cape Verde; defenders Porro (Spain), Lisandro Martínez (Argentina), Upamecano (France), and Cucurella (Spain); midfielders Rodri (Spain), Olise (France), and Bellingham (England); and forwards Messi (Argentina), Haaland (Norway), and Mbappé (France). The announcement was shared on Reddit's r/soccer community, linking to the official FIFA website where fans can vote. This selection highlights prominent players from various nations, with Spain contributing three players, France three, and Argentina two, among others.
FIFA Announces Fan-Voted 2026 World Cup Best XI: Messi, Mbappé, Haaland Lead
FIFA has unveiled the 2026 World Cup Best XI lineup, as voted by global fans. The team features a mix of established stars and surprises. Goalkeeper is Cape Verde's 40-year-old veteran Vozinha, who received 39.6% of the vote. The defense includes Spain's Porro (18.74%), Argentina's Lisandro Martínez (10.28%), France's Upamecano (14.93%), and Spain's Cucurella (22.56%). The midfield consists of Spain's Rodri (15.34%), France's Olise (18.94%), and England's Bellingham (29.02%). The forward line is led by Argentina's Messi (22.17%), Norway's Haaland (27.46%), and France's Mbappé (29.8%). Champions Spain had three players selected, while notable names like Rodri and Messi also made the list. The announcement was made via FIFA's official X account and reported by Hupu soccer news.
Seven Players from 2022 IFFHS World Cup Best XI Reach 2026 Quarterfinals
As the 2026 World Cup reaches the quarterfinal stage, Hupu reports that seven of the eleven players selected for the IFFHS 2022 World Cup Best XI have advanced with their respective teams. The players include Lionel Messi (Argentina), Kylian Mbappé (France), Julián Álvarez (Argentina), Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Theo Hernández (France), and goalkeeper Damián Martínez (Argentina). The full 2022 Best XI also featured Romain Saïss (Morocco), Joško Gvardiol (Croatia), Luka Modrić (Croatia), and Antoine Griezmann (France), who did not advance. The article highlights the continued prominence of these stars in the current tournament.