Spain dominate World Cup 2026 best XI as Messi tops ratings despite final defeat

Spain’s World Cup‐winning stars have been rewarded with a dominant presence in the 2026 tournament’s best XI – but it is Argentina’s Lionel Messi who emerges as the statistically highest‐rated player of the competition.

The data analytics platform SofaScore published its team of the tournament after Spain secured their second World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final. Five Spanish players made the cut, underlining the control and consistency “La Roja” displayed throughout the campaign.

Yet the most eye‐catching decision came in goal, where Switzerland’s Gregor Kobel was selected ahead of Spain’s Unai Simon, despite Simon officially being named winner of the Golden Glove by FIFA.

Spain’s champions headline all‐star XI

SofaScore’s ideal line‐up reflects Spain’s defensive strength and tactical discipline. The back four is entirely Spanish, featuring Marc Cucurella, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi and Pedro Porro.

In midfield, Rodri – who also collected the Golden Ball as player of the tournament – anchors the centre of the pitch. He is joined by England’s Jude Bellingham and France’s Ousmane Dembele.

The front line is a star‐studded trio: Lionel Messi of Argentina, Kylian Mbappe of France and Norway’s Erling Haaland, three of the game’s most celebrated forwards.

The full SofaScore World Cup 2026 team of the tournament is:

Goalkeeper:
Gregor Kobel (Switzerland)

Defence:
Marc Cucurella (Spain), Aymeric Laporte (Spain), Pau Cubarsi (Spain), Pedro Porro (Spain)

Midfield:
Rodri (Spain), Jude Bellingham (England), Ousmane Dembele (France)

Attack:
Lionel Messi (Argentina), Kylian Mbappe (France), Erling Haaland (Norway)

Kubel over Simon in major goalkeeping surprise

Kobel’s inclusion is the major talking point of the selection. The Swiss goalkeeper has been preferred to Simon even though the Spain No 1 was officially recognised by the world governing body as the tournament’s best goalkeeper.

Simon’s performances were instrumental in Spain’s march to the title, culminating in the narrow 1-0 win over Argentina in the final. His displays earned him FIFA’s Golden Glove award for the competition.

Despite that, SofaScore’s statistical model opted for Kobel, suggesting the Borussia Dortmund keeper’s shot‐stopping numbers and all‐round metrics across Switzerland’s matches were enough to edge the Spaniard in their ratings system.

Messi tops ratings as Mbappe claims Golden Boot

Although Argentina fell just short in the final, Messi not only secured a place in the best XI but also finished as the highest‐rated player of the entire World Cup on SofaScore’s scale.

The Argentine captain received an average rating of 8.79, putting him clear of his closest challenger, Kylian Mbappe, who registered 8.24. Mbappe, however, claimed the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer, continuing his prolific record on the World Cup stage.

Rodri’s influence in Spain’s midfield was recognised with the Golden Ball, while his team‐mate Pau Cubarsi was named Best Young Player, further underlining the depth of talent in the Spanish side.

Youthful Spain underline new era of dominance

Spain’s second World Cup triumph – and their first since 2010 – has been framed as the emergence of a new generation capable of sustaining success at the highest level.

With a defensive unit entirely drawn from their squad, a Golden Ball‐winning midfielder in Rodri and the tournament’s Best Young Player in Cubarsi, the champions have left a strong statistical as well as emotional imprint on World Cup 2026.

The presence of Messi, Mbappe, Haaland and Bellingham alongside them in the SofaScore XI provides a snapshot of a global game in which an emerging Spanish core now sits comfortably among the sport’s biggest superstars.