Ladbrokes' World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament

• GK: Vozinha (Cape Verde)

• RB: Pedro Porro (Spain)

• CB: Pau Cubarsi (Spain)

• CB: Lisandro Martinez (Argentina)

• LB: Marc Cucurella (Spain)

• CM: Rodri (Spain)

• CM: Enzo Fernandez (Argentina)

• CM: Jude Bellingham (England)

• RW: Lionel Messi (Argentina)

• LW: Kylian Mbappe (France)

• ST: Erling Haaland (Norway)

GK - Vozinha (Cape Verde)

Many fans have criticised FIFA for expanding the World Cup to 48 teams, but the early stage of the tournament proved that the decision did have some merit and no one encapsulated that more than Cape Verde.

2026 was Cape Verde's first-ever World Cup, and in that game, the African side held eventual finalists Spain to a 0-0 draw, with goalkeeper Vozinha making seven saves. With ten saves and two clean sheets across the group stage, Cape Verde headed to the Round of 32 to face Argentina, another eventual finalist.

They took the 2022 World Cup winners to extra time, with Vozinha keeping his nation in the game with eight saves. He shone at this tournament for Cape Verde and became a real cult hero, so despite only playing four games, Vozinha takes his rightful spot in Ladbrokes' Team of the Tournament.

RB - Pedro Porro (Spain)

Part of a Spanish back-line that has only conceded one goal so far at the World Cup, Pedro Porro has shown himself to be a top full-back after a rough few years with Tottenham at club level.

The right-back popped up with a vital goal against France in the semi-final too. That, coupled with a goal against Austria, means Porro has scored more goals at the World Cup this summer than he did last season in the Premier League for Tottenham.

Lamine Yamal is the star of the show on the right for Spain, but he's been able to dazzle, just as he did against France in the semi-final, because of the top offensive and defensive work of Porro behind him.

CB - Pau Cubarsi (Spain)

Another Spain entry in Ladbrokes' Team of the Tournament for the World Cup is Pau Cubarsi, with the Barcelona man establishing himself as a top centre-back in the present, not just for the future. Despite only being 19, Cubarsi oozes class and quality at the back, both with the ball at his feet and when defending opposition attackers.

He too has been part of the Spain side who have conceded just one goal at the World Cup so far, but unlike Porro, has done so whilst playing every single possible minute for Spain as a trusted member of Luis de la Fuente's team.

Alongside other defenders, Cubarsi ranks in the top 77% or higher at this World Cup for defensive contributions, tackles, interceptions, recoveries and clearances. He really has been a shining light and proved himself to be a worthy national team starter for the next decade, at the very least.

CB - Lisandro Martinez (Argentina)

We're going from Spain to their World Cup final opponents next to speak about Lisandro Martinez, who is the second centre-back in Ladbrokes' Team of the Tournament so far. The Man United man has shone for his national team alongside Cristian Romero at the back, reminding people why he was wanted by Arsenal and other top Champions League clubs before joining the Red Devils.

Along with popping up with a crucial goal in the 3-2 extra time win against Cape Verde in Argentina's Round of 32 tie, Martinez has been top tier defensively too, appearing in the top 79% of World Cup defenders for defensive contributions, tackles and interceptions, as well as recoveries and clean sheets.

It's not just defensively where Lisandro has shone, with the centre-back ranking in the top 94% or higher at this tournament for successful passes, expected assists, big chances created and assists amongst other players in his position. Rightly, the love at this World Cup has been shown to Lionel Messi, but a lot of the good work in the Argentinian ranks starts with Lisandro at the back.

LB - Marc Cucurella (Spain)

This World Cup has been a rather eventful one for Marc Cucurella, and not just for what's happened on the pitch. The left-back left Chelsea during the early portion of this tournament to join Real Madrid. The former Barcelona man has shown, with his performances at this World Cup, exactly why Jose Mourinho wanted him.

Cucurella has been a major outlet for Spain on the left, popping up with two assists in the Round of 32 win against Austria on July 2. However, it's been his defensive work that has been particularly impressive at the World Cup. As noted, Spain have conceded just one goal at the tournament, and Cucurella has played 90 minutes in every single game so far.

His showing against France in the semi-final was particularly impressive, with Spain stopping a France team that boasts the likes of Mbappe, Olise and Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembele from scoring. In the game, Cucurella made four tackles, one being last man, one block, one clearance, one interception and four recoveries... he was everywhere.

CM - Enzo Fernandez (Argentina)

From a former Chelsea player to a current one, Enzo Fernandez has shown at this World Cup why Chelsea paid over £100m for him a few years ago, and why Real Madrid are supposedly interested in bringing him to Spain.

Enzo has started all but one game for Argentina at this World Cup, scoring vital goals in the comeback wins against Egypt and England in the Round of 16 and semi-finals respectively. He's been an offensive weapon, as shown by the fact that when he's compared with other midfielders at the World Cup, Enzo is ranked in the top 92% for; goals, shots, shots on target, headed shots, expected assists, successful passes and accurate long balls.

That's not all, as Enzo is also ranked amongst the top 80% in a lot of defensive metrics too, including defensive contributions, tackles, recoveries, clearances and clean sheets. The stats show that whether defending his own goal or attacking the opposition's, Enzo has dominated at the World Cup.

CM - Rodri (Spain)

It may be strange to say for a man who won the Ballon d'Or in 2025 and ruptured his ACL less than two years ago, but Man City midfielder Rodri may have found a new peak whilst playing for Spain at this summer's World Cup.

Rodri is at the heart of everything for Spain, whether that's mopping up and stopping opposition attacks from a defensive perspective, or starting his own team's offensive plays from an attacking one. It's almost as if Rodri saw Man City splash over £115m on Elliot Anderson this summer but wanted to show his club that he's still the man.

Rodri doesn't have a single goal or assist to his name at the World Cup, but when you look underneath the hood at the former Atletico Madrid man's underlying numbers, you can see just how pivotal he is to the way Spain play. When compared with other World Cup midfielders, Rodri ranks in the top 100% for successful passes, and in the 99th percentile for accurate long balls. He has also created nine big chances, better than over 97% of players playing in his position.

Only 1% of midfielders have won more duels than Rodri at this summer's World Cup, and that's incredibly impressive considering just how much Spain dominate the ball. No midfielder has more than his 794 touches and only 1% of midfielders have made more than his 22% tackles. Whether looking at his defensive or offensive numbers, it's clear that this World Cup has reminded fans that Rodri remains one of the best midfielders playing right now.

CM - Jude Bellingham (England)

England got to the semi-final of the World Cup for the first time since 2018, and a lot of that has to do with the incredible performances of Jude Bellingham. Many fans questioned whether Bellingham would start for England this summer, but he more than proved his doubters wrong with how he played for the Three Lions.

Bellingham was incredible for England offensively, scoring braces against both Mexico and Norway in the Round of 16 and quarter-final respectively, adding to the two goal and one assist he popped up with during the group stage for England. He was bettered by no other midfielder when it came to goals, xG on target, shots on target and headed shots, but it wasn't just his attacking play that was top tier.

Bellingham's 26 defensive contributions, 44 duels won, 14 tackles and nine clearances also put him in the 100th percentile compared to other players in his position. It's clear that Bellingham did just as much defensively for England as he did going forward, and that's quite an impressive feat considering he scored six goals.

LW - Kylian Mbappe (France)

Some pundits would have you believe that Mbappe had a poor season for Real Madrid, but when you look at his stats he scored 43 goals in 47 matches for his club, and he continued that world class goal scoring form into the World Cup with France.

Mbappe has scored eight goals at the World Cup so far, and has the chance to add a few more if he features for France against England in the third-place playoff match taking place on July 18 at 10pm BST.

Heading into the final, Mbappe has scored just as many goals as Lionel Messi, but his goals per 90 average, shot accuracy %age and minutes per goal are both better than his former PSG team mate. The stats show that Mbappe may have been the best attacking player at this summer's tournament.

The Frenchman has scored 20 World Cup goals, just one fewer than Messi, and given that he's 27 and Messi isn't expected to play at the 2030 tournament, it's quite likely that Mbappe goes down as the best World Cup player by the time his career is over.

RW - Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Speaking of Messi, the Barcelona legend and multi-time Ballon d'Or winner has shown that despite turning 40 in June of next year, he remains not only the greatest of all time, but still one of the best players in world football right now.

As noted, no one has scored more goals than Messi at the World Cup this summer, while only Michael Olise has more than the four assists that Messi has registered so far, with the prospect of more being added in the final on Sunday evening. Messi also has the most combined goals and assists at this summer's tournament, as well as the highest average rating of any player according to FotMob (8.77).

When compared to players in his position, Messi is in the 100th percentile for goals, shots, assists, expected assists, successful passes, chances created, big chances created, successful crosses, successful dribbles and touches and fouls won, but his defensive work has also been surprisingly impressive.

The Argentine, when compared with players in his position, is also in the 100th percentile for duels won, tackles and possession won in the final third. This World Cup has arguably been the best of Messi's career, and he's hoping to top it off with back-to-back titles.

ST - Erling Haaland (Norway)

When Erling Haaland woke up on June 15, he'd never played a World Cup match, and now he's one of the most clinical finishers that this tournament has ever seen. By the time Norway were knocked out in the Round of 16 by England, Haaland had scored more World Cup goals than he'd played World Cup matches, a truly remarkable stat.

Only eight players, including Portugal legend Eusebio, have a better goals per match average in World Cup history than Haaland, with the Man City man scoring 1.4 goals per game at the biggest tournament in football.

No striker had a better non-penalty xG than Haaland at the World Cup this summer, and he ranked better than 95% of number nines when it came to goals, expected goals, xG on target, shots, shots on target, aerial duels won and headed shots at the tournament.

For those interested, Ladbrokes has an in-depth match preview posted for the World Cup final, with a special Argentina vs Spain bet builder included.

Ladbrokes has also posted several other Spain vs Argentina-related articles to keep punters up-to-date ahead of this weekend's final:

• Argentina's route to the World Cup final

• Spain's route to the World Cup final

• World Cup final Spain and Argentina predicted line-ups

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