Messi leads, Lisandro at the back in FIFA's 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 Argentines: 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 at center forward, and Frenchman Kylian Mbappé on the left. In midfield, a high-class triangle was formed, with Spaniard Rodri as the central anchor, joined by England’s Jude Bellingham on the left and France’s Michael Olise on the right.

The back line features Lisandro Martínez alongside French defender Dayot Upamecano at center back, 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 best player of the tournament by the IFFHS

At the same time, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) awarded Lionel Messi the prize for Best Player of the Tournament, the organization’s top individual honor. The distinction was determined through the body’s overall performance index, a data-based methodology 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 field), recording 8 goals and 4 assists. His direct involvement in 12 goals proved crucial to the national team’s run at every decisive stage.

The technical analysis concluded that his average match rating was 8.33 out of 10. The organization emphasized 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 tournament’s standout players.

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