FIFA World Cup 2026: Fans’ Team of the Tournament includes Haaland, Mbappe and Messi but only three Spain stars

Fans have named a World Cup 2026 best XI featuring Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi – but only three players from champions Spain have made the cut.

The line-up, announced by world governing body FIFA, was chosen entirely by supporters after Spain lifted the trophy with a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final.

Despite Spain’s defensive solidity and goalkeeper Unai Simon winning the Golden Glove, fans opted for Cape Verde’s Vozinha between the posts in one of several eye-catching calls.

Surprise in goal as Vozinha preferred to Golden Glove winner

The most striking decision in the fan-voted team came in goal, where Vozinha of Cape Verde was selected ahead of Spain’s Unai Simon, who had been awarded the official Golden Glove as the tournament’s best goalkeeper.

FIFA confirmed that the ideal XI was compiled solely from supporter votes, rather than the technical study group or official awards panel.

Vozinha’s inclusion reflects the impact he made with Cape Verde, one of the tournament’s standout surprise packages, despite their exit before the latter stages.

Only three world champions make fan XI

World champions Spain, who edged Argentina 1-0 in the final to claim the 2026 World Cup, see just three of their players recognised in the fans’ selection.

Right-back Pedro Porro, left-back Marc Cucurella and midfielder Rodri are the only Spaniards included.

Rodri, who also collected the official award for best player of the tournament, anchors the midfield in the fan XI after a series of dominant performances that underpinned Spain’s run to the title.

Cucurella and Porro both feature in a back four that surprisingly does not include any of Spain’s central defenders, despite the team conceding few goals in the knockout stages.

Star-studded defence and midfield

The defence in front of Vozinha combines players from three different nations. Alongside Pedro Porro and Marc Cucurella, Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez and France’s Dayot Upamecano are chosen as the central pairing.

In midfield, Rodri is joined by France’s Michael Olise and England’s Jude Bellingham, forming a technically gifted and attack-minded trio.

Olise and Bellingham are rewarded for their influential displays, with both providing creativity, goals and versatility throughout the tournament.

Messi, Haaland and Mbappe lead formidable attack

The forward line selected by fans brings together three of the modern game’s biggest stars.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi is joined by Norway’s Erling Haaland and France’s Kylian Mbappe, who finished the competition as top scorer with 10 goals.

Mbappe’s prolific form secured him the Golden Boot, while Haaland’s goalscoring exploits powered Norway deep into the tournament. Messi, appearing at another World Cup final with Argentina, retains his status as a fan favourite.

Full FIFA fan-voted World Cup 2026 team

FIFA listed the supporters’ World Cup 2026 best XI as follows:

Goalkeeper: – Vozinha (Cape Verde)

Defenders: – Pedro Porro (Spain) – Lisandro Martinez (Argentina) – Dayot Upamecano (France) – Marc Cucurella (Spain)

Midfielders: – Rodri (Spain) – Michael Olise (France) – Jude Bellingham (England)

Forwards: – Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Erling Haaland (Norway) – Kylian Mbappe (France)

While Spain lifted the trophy and collected several official FIFA awards, the fan-selected XI underlines how individual performances, surprise stories and global star power shaped supporters’ memories of the 2026 World Cup.