Lionel Messi has been named the highest-rated player in Sofascore’s team of the tournament for the 2026 World Cup, with Spain dominating the selection after being crowned world champions.
The Argentine forward received a rating of 8.79, the highest score among the players selected for the best XI. France’s Kylian Mbappé was the next highest-rated player with 8.24, followed by England midfielder Jude Bellingham on 7.81 and Spain’s Rodri with a rating of 7.76.
Spain’s success at the tournament is reflected heavily in the final selection, with five members of the world champions included in the 11-man team.
The team, compiled by sports statistics platform Sofascore based on player ratings and performances throughout the tournament, features players from six different nations. However, no African player was selected despite the continent recording its highest participation at a World Cup in this edition of the competition.
Sofascore’s team is arranged in a 4-1-2-3 formation, with Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel chosen as the player between the posts.
Spain’s influence begins in defence, where Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella all make the line-up. The quartet’s inclusion means the Spanish champions account for four of the team’s five defensive positions, while Rodri adds another representative in midfield.
Rodri is joined in the middle of the pitch by Bellingham, who was one of England’s standout players during the tournament. The pair form the central midfield partnership in the selected XI.
The forward line features an imposing collection of attacking talent. France have two representatives, with Ousmane Dembélé and Mbappé both included. Messi occupies the central attacking position, while Norway striker Erling Haaland completes the front three.
Messi’s selection at the top of the ratings list gives him another individual distinction from the tournament. His 8.79 score puts him comfortably ahead of Mbappé, who finished with an 8.24 rating.
Bellingham’s 7.81 score was enough to earn him a place alongside Rodri, whose 7.76 rating was the fourth-highest among the players highlighted in the rankings.
The selection provides a statistical snapshot of the players considered to have made the biggest impact throughout the tournament. Spain’s dominance of the XI mirrors their success on the pitch, with five players from the newly crowned world champions making the final selection.
Kobel is the only goalkeeper chosen, while Spain’s four defenders make up the largest national representation in the back line. The inclusion of Porro, Cubarsí, Laporte and Cucurella highlights the contribution of the Spanish defence to their successful campaign.
The midfield is shared by Spain and England, with Rodri and Bellingham selected ahead of the attacking quartet.
Up front, the line-up brings together some of the biggest names in world football. Dembélé and Mbappé represent France, Messi carries Argentina’s colours, and Haaland is Norway’s sole representative.
The final selection also highlights the absence of African representation. Despite the continent’s record participation at the 2026 World Cup, none of its players earned a place in Sofascore’s best XI.
The team of the tournament offers a final statistical assessment of the competition, with Messi taking the highest individual rating and Spain emerging as the most strongly represented nation.
With five players in the XI, the world champions have made their mark on the selection, while the presence of established stars such as Messi, Mbappé, Bellingham and Haaland ensures the line-up features some of the tournament’s most prominent performers.
Sofascore’s 4-1-2-3 team is therefore led by Messi and built around a strong Spanish core, providing a statistical reflection of the performances that shaped the 2026 World Cup.
