🏅 Best XI of World Cup round one has Vozinha and a powerhouse attack

In partnership with

OneFootball

·18 Juni 2026

🏅 Best XI of World Cup round one has Vozinha and a powerhouse attack

With the end of the first round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Opta released its Team of the Round featuring the players who impressed the most.

Now that the national teams have taken the field, it’s possible to get a good sense of who started the tournament in top form.

Video OneFootball

Check out the Team of the Round for the opening matchday!

Matchday 1 of the 2026 World Cup is in the bag, so we had a go at picking a best XI for the opening round of games. Which players have stood out to you so far?
– Kamis, 18 Juni 2026

Vozinha (Goalkeeper | Cape Verde): The 40-year-old veteran was a true wall in the historic 0-0 draw against Spain. With seven crucial saves, his heroic performance was key to securing one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
Amir Murillo (Right-back | Panama): Despite the loss to Ghana, the full-back stood out for his strong attacking support and excellent fighting spirit. He led the stats for ball progression and duels won on his side of the pitch.
Pico Lopes (Center-back | Cape Verde): A true titan in Cape Verde’s defense, Lopes frustrated the Spanish attack from start to finish. His 11 clearances were vital in preserving the surprising result.
Harry Souttar (Center-back | Australia): The Australian giant led the back line with a colossal display in the surprise win over Turkey. Dominating in the air and on the ground, he showed great physical presence and pace.
Antonee Robinson (Left-back | USA): A tireless presence down the left flank, he shone in the 4-1 win over Paraguay. Robinson stood out for his excellent ball progression and constant involvement in creating chances.
Ayyoub Bouaddi (Central midfielder | Morocco): The 18-year-old talent controlled the midfield in the draw against Brazil, showing impressive passing accuracy. He set the tempo and distributed the ball with the maturity of a veteran.
Weston McKennie (Central midfielder | USA): Playing in a more advanced role, the Juventus man was a constant threat against Paraguay, with great chance creation and flawless dribbling. His technical quality and passing in the final third were decisive.
Lionel Messi (Right winger | Argentina): With three goals in the 3-0 win over Algeria, Messi became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick (38 years old). On top of that, he matched Miroslav Klose’s record as the tournament’s all-time top scorer, reaching 16 goals.
Yan Diomande (Left winger | Ivory Coast): Unfazed by his debut, he was the player who created the most chances in the entire opening round. His surging runs and dribbling tormented Ecuador’s defense in Ivory Coast’s win.
Erling Haaland (Striker | Norway): In his highly anticipated World Cup debut, Haaland scored twice and was the main attacking threat in the win over Iraq. Despite missing the chance to complete a hat-trick, he reinforced Norway’s status as a potential dark horse in the tournament.
Kylian Mbappé (Striker | France): The superstar came alive in the second half to score two brilliant goals and secure the win over Senegal. In doing so, he became France’s all-time leading scorer and reached 14 World Cup goals, closing in on the overall record.