Published : 22 Jul 2026, 06:41 AM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:26 AM
Spain's second World Cup triumph was built on one of the tournament's strongest defences, yet neither centre-back Pau Cubarsi nor Aymeric Laporte has made FIFA's shortlist for the tournament's best XI.
The duo formed a formidable central defensive partnership during the North American World Cup.
Spain's solitary goal conceded came against Belgium in the quarter-finals, with Cubarsi's standout performances earning him the tournament's Best Young Player award.
Their absence from the defenders' shortlist for the official Team of the Tournament has consequently raised eyebrows.
For every World Cup, FIFA allows football fans to vote for their ultimate starting eleven. Voters can construct their teams on FIFA's official website using 4-3-3, 4-4-2, or 3-4-3 formations.
Despite the centre-back omissions, champions Spain are represented in the defensive category by Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro.
Other defenders on the shortlist include runners-up Argentina's Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero, Portugal's Nuno Mendes, the Netherlands' Virgil van Dijk, Brazil's Gabriel Magalhaes, and France's Dayot Upamecano.
The goalkeeping category features Golden Glove winner Unai Simon of Spain, Argentina's Emiliano Martinez, Cape Verde's Vozinha, England's Jordan Pickford, and Curacao's Eloy Room.
In midfield and on the wings, options include Golden Ball winner Rodri and Lamine Yamal of Spain, England's Jude Bellingham, France's Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele, Brazil's Vinicius Junior, Argentina's Enzo Fernandez, Croatia's Luka Modric, and Morocco's Ismael Saibari.
The attacking options comprise Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal, France's Kylian Mbappe, Mexico's Julian Quinones, Norway's Erling Haaland, and Argentina's Lionel Messi.
