Messi leads it, Lisandro at the back, FIFA names World Cup XI | OneFootball

FIFA officially unveiled the “FIFA Team of the Tournament World Cup 2026”, the ideal lineup highlighting the most decisive players of the competition. Using a 4-3-3 tactical setup, the team features two Argentinians: Lisandro Martínez in central defense and Lionel Messi leading the attack.

The attacking trio brings together some of the biggest stars in world football, with Messi on the wing, Norwegian striker Erling Haaland as center forward, and French star Kylian Mbappé on the left. In midfield, a high-quality triangle was formed, with Spain’s Rodri at the center, supported by England’s Jude Bellingham on the left and France’s Michael Olise on the right.

The defensive line features Lisandro Martínez alongside France’s Dayot Upamecano as center backs, flanked by Spaniards Pedro Porro on the right and Marc Cucurella on the left. Meanwhile, the biggest surprise on the list comes in goal with the inclusion of Vozinha, thanks to his historic performances for the Cape Verde national team.

Lionel Messi named the tournament’s best player by the IFFHS

At the same time, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) awarded Lionel Messi the Best Player of the Tournament prize, the organization’s most important individual honor. The distinction was determined through the body’s overall performance index, a methodology based on statistical data that evaluates match ratings, goals, assists, and direct impact in the knockout rounds.

“The numbers supporting this recognition are extraordinary by any measure,” the IFFHS said in its official statement. The Argentine captain played all 7 matches of the tournament (626 minutes on the pitch), recording 8 goals and 4 assists. His direct involvement in 12 goals proved crucial to Argentina’s run at every decisive stage.

The technical analysis concluded that his average match rating was 8.33 out of 10. The organization stressed that this score reflects sustained excellence under pressure from the group stage through the end of the competition, setting the Argentine apart from the rest of the World Cup’s standout players.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.