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FIFA has opened voting for the FIFA World Cup Best XI, allowing fans around the world to select their dream team from a shortlist of the tournament’s top performers. Supporters can build their team in either a 4-3-3, 4-4-2 or 3-4-3 formation through FIFA’s official website.
Spain’s World Cup-winning squad is well represented in the nominees, with full-backs Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro among the defensive options. They are joined by Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero, Portugal’s Nuno Mendes, the Netherlands’ Virgil van Dijk, Brazil’s Gabriel Magalhaes and France’s Dayot Upamecano.
The goalkeeping shortlist features Golden Glove winner Unai Simon of Spain alongside Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez, Cape Verde’s Vozinha, England’s Jordan Pickford and Curacao’s Eloy Room.
In midfield and wide positions, the nominees include Golden Ball winner Rodri, Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, England’s Jude Bellingham, France’s Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele, Brazil’s Vinicius Junior, Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez, Croatia captain Luka Modric and Morocco’s Ismael Saibari.
The attacking shortlist consists of Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal, France captain Kylian Mbappe, Mexico forward Julian Quinones, Norway striker Erling Haaland and Argentina legend Lionel Messi.
However, the nomination list has sparked controversy after Spain’s central defenders Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte were left out despite playing key roles in the country’s World Cup triumph.
The defensive duo impressed throughout the tournament, helping Spain concede just one goal in the entire competition, against Belgium. Cubarsi, 19, was also named the tournament’s Best Young Player after a series of outstanding performances.
Despite their contributions, neither Cubarsi nor Laporte was included among the candidates for the World Cup Best XI, prompting widespread criticism from Spanish media and fans, many of whom have questioned FIFA’s selection criteria.
