Best of all: FIFA unveils World Cup Dream XI and 11 players voted for tournament winners | Football News

FIFA has announced the star-studded World Cup Dream XI with Messi, Mbappé and Haaland/ Photo: X

Spain may have lifted the 2026 FIFA World Cup after beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in New Jersey, but the tournament’s best players will be recognized again after FIFA revealed its Dream XI.The Team of the Tournament, selected by fan votes from around the world, showcases the best players from six weeks of soccer in the United States, Canada and Mexico. While Spain, France and Argentina dominated the semi-finals, England finished third with just one representative.Jude Bellingham is the only England player to make FIFA’s Dream XI despite Thomas Tuchel’s side ending the tournament with a shock 6-4 win over France in the third leg.

Bellingham’s inclusion comes after another notable run for the Real Madrid midfielder.The 23-year-old finished with seven goals, the highest tally by an England player at a single FIFA World Cup, helping the Three Lions to their best finish since they won the tournament in 1966.Although England produced a number of notable players, including Bukayo Saka’s historic hat-trick against France and Declan Rice’s third hat-trick, Bellingham was the only English player voted into the final XI.

Spain, France and Argentina dominate the polls

Fresh from captaining Spain to their second World Cup title, Rodri leads the midfield after also winning the Ballon d’Or as the tournament’s best player.Spain have three full-backs, with defenders Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro joining their captain in the squad after Luis de la Fuente’s men ended their unbeaten run by defeating Argentina in the final.France also fielded three players despite finishing fourth.Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappé is on the right side of the attack after finishing the tournament with 10 goals, becoming the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice and breaking Lionel Messi’s all-time record of 22 World Cup goals.Michael Olise takes center stage after his record-breaking campaign. The French player finished the tournament with seven assists, the most ever recorded by a player at a single FIFA World Cup.Dayot Upamecano completes the French team in central defense.Argentina, the last to be defeated after Ferran Torres’ winner in the 106th minute, has two players in the XI.Lionel Messi is on the left after finishing the tournament with eight goals and four assists, while defender Lisandro Martínez supports Upamecano in the heart of defence.Rounding out the front three is Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, who marked his World Cup debut by firing his country to a quarter-final appearance as he scored seven goals in the match.

The cult hero of Cape Verde will find the goal post

Perhaps the biggest surprise in the Dream XI is the selection of goals.Instead of winning the Golden Glove Unai Simón, England player Jordan Pickford or France’s Mike Maignan, fans voted for Cape Verdean veteran Vozinha.The 40-year-old became one of the tournament’s top performers as Cape Verde progressed to the round of 32 before narrowly losing 3-2 after extra time to eventual winners Argentina.Vozinha kept clean sheets against Spain and Saudi Arabia, made 18 saves in all matches and beat expectations against the number by 0.9.His actions also made him uncomfortable with society. According to sports statistics, the player started Cape Verde’s opening game against Spain with 50,000 Instagram followers. After making seven saves against the winners and continuing his impressive campaign, he is said to have risen to 29.5 million by the end of the World Cup.

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The Dream XI is paying tribute to everyone after the tournament.Rodri took home the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player after leading Spain to the title, while Messi and Mbappé received the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball respectively.Mbappé finished as the winner of the Golden Boot with 10 goals, ahead of Messi, who finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists, while Spanish midfielder Unai Simón received the Golden Glove after scoring one goal in eight games. Young defender Pau Cubarsí picked up the FIFA Young Player Award, and the Netherlands were recognized with the FIFA Fair Play Award after picking up three yellow cards throughout their campaign.