Spain's World Cup victory over Argentina has led to a significant presence in SofaScore's 2026 World Cup Team of the Tournament, with the champions providing the majority of the defensive lineup. The team, compiled by statistical analysis from SofaScore, also features a notable surprise in goal and recognizes standout performers from other nations.
Goalkeeper
Gregor Kobel of Switzerland has been selected as the tournament's top goalkeeper. Despite potentially being a surprise to some, Kobel's performances for Borussia Dortmund are highlighted as a continuation of Swiss goalkeeping excellence. He made critical saves, including one with a 0.99 expected goals prevented (XG) against Canada, and was instrumental in Switzerland's penalty shootout victory over Colombia in the last 16. Kobel also demonstrated proficiency with his distribution, maintaining a 75% pass completion rate throughout the tournament.
Defense
Spain's defensive strength is evident with four players named in the backline, reflecting the team's achievement of conceding only one goal during the tournament. Marc Cucurella (Spain) at left-back earned his spot with consistent performances, including 398 passes completed in eight appearances and two assists against Austria. Aymeric Laporte, a veteran center-back for Spain, also made the XI, contributing 29 clearances and a 93.47% pass completion rate. His partner, Pau Cubarsi, at just 19 years old, became one of the youngest World Cup winners and earned the Young Player of the Tournament award, showcasing composure and strong defensive contributions with a 96.13% pass completion rate. Completing the defensive unit is right-back Pedro Porro (Spain), who, despite not starting every match, made a significant impact, scoring crucial goals against France and Austria and contributing defensively with eight interceptions and 14 clearances.
Midfield and Attack
Rodri of Spain anchors the midfield, recognized for his all-around influence. Despite not scoring, his 11 key passes, 26 tackles, and 11 clearances over 726 minutes highlight his pivotal role. England's Jude Bellingham is included for his outstanding campaign, scoring seven goals and providing one assist, demonstrating maturity and significant contributions in midfield. Ousmane Dembele of France earned a place with six goals, including a hat-trick against Norway, and two assists, showcasing his dynamic play. Lionel Messi (Argentina) had a remarkable tournament, achieving his highest World Cup output with eight goals and four assists, leading to the highest average SofaScore rating of any player. Norway's Erling Haaland is recognized for his debut World Cup, scoring seven goals and leading his team to their first quarter-final appearance. Kylian Mbappe (France) rounds out the attack, finishing as the competition's top scorer with 10 goals, becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
