FIFA Reveals 2026 World Cup Best XI Candidates: Spain Leads With Six Players

July 21, 2026

FIFA Announces World Cup Best XI Nominees

Following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA has officially opened voting for the tournament's Best XI.

The candidate list features many of the biggest stars from this year's competition, with Spain leading all nations with six players included.

Argentina follows with five nominees, while France has four players selected and England has three representatives among the candidates.

The shortlist highlights the strongest individual performances from players across the tournament, including established superstars and emerging talents.

Spain Dominates the Candidate List

Spain's impressive World Cup campaign earned them the largest number of nominees.

The Spanish players included in the FIFA Best XI candidates are:

Unai Simón
Marc Cucurella
Pedro Porro
Rodri
Lamine Yamal
Mikel Oyarzabal

Their strong representation reflects Spain's overall quality and consistency throughout the tournament.

Argentina and France Among the Top Contenders

Defending champions Argentina also have a strong presence on the shortlist with five players nominated.

Argentina's candidates include:

Emiliano Martínez
Lisandro Martínez
Cristian Romero
Enzo Fernández
Lionel Messi

France also produced several outstanding individual performances, with four players earning nominations:

William Saliba
Aurélien Tchouaméni
Michael Olise
Ousmane Dembélé
Kylian Mbappé

FIFA 2026 World Cup Best XI Candidates

Goalkeepers

The goalkeeper nominees are:

Vozinha (Cape Verde)
Emiliano Martínez (Argentina)
Unai Simón (Spain)
Jordan Pickford (England)
Ruim (Curaçao)

Defenders

The defensive candidates are:

Lisandro Martínez (Argentina)
Nuno Mendes (Portugal)
Marc Cucurella (Spain)
Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands)
Gabriel Magalhães (Brazil)
Cristian Romero (Argentina)
Dayot Upamecano (France)
Pedro Porro (Spain)

Midfielders

The midfield nominees include:

Jude Bellingham (England)
Michael Olise (France)
Vinícius Júnior (Brazil)
Enzo Fernández (Argentina)
Ousmane Dembélé (France)
Luka Modrić (Croatia)
Bilal El Khannouss / Ismael Saibari (Morocco)
Rodri (Spain)
Lamine Yamal (Spain)

Forwards

The attacking candidates are:

Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Kylian Mbappé (France)
Erling Haaland (Norway)
Harry Kane (England)
Germán Berterame / Gilberto Quiñones (Mexico)
Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain)

A Star-Studded Selection

The 2026 World Cup Best XI candidates feature an impressive collection of football's biggest names.

From Messi and Mbappé to Haaland, Bellingham, Rodri, and Yamal, the shortlist represents the elite level of talent displayed during the tournament.

Fans will now have the opportunity to vote for the players they believe deserve a place in the official FIFA World Cup Best XI.