Spain crowned 2026 World Cup champions as ESPN names tournament’s best and worst
Mark Ogden’s editorial breakdown highlights Kylian Mbappé’s Golden Boot and Erling Haaland’s record debut, while identifying standout defenders and underperforming stars across the 48-team tournament.
Spain have secured their second FIFA World Cup title after defeating Argentina in extra time, concluding a 39-day tournament that featured 48 teams and 104 matches. The victory ends Argentina’s bid for consecutive championships and cements Spain’s status as the pre-eminent force in international football. Following the final whistle, ESPN published an editorial analysis by Mark Ogden, identifying the tournament’s best and most disappointing players based on their performances in the brutal heat and high-stakes environment.
The ESPN Best XI was anchored by a strong Spanish defensive unit, including goalkeeper Unai Simón and defenders Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, and Marc Cucurella. Cubarsí, aged 19, continued in the final despite being injured by a challenge from Argentina’s Enzo Fernández, while Laporte, aged 32, forged a strong partnership with the Barcelona youngster after returning to Spain from Saudi Arabia. Cucurella sealed his move to Real Madrid with an outstanding campaign, and Rodri was credited as the world’s best defensive midfielder for his control and ball retention.
In the midfield and forward lines, the analysis highlighted Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi and England’s Jude Bellingham. Bouaddi, an 18-year-old who switched allegiance from France, was identified as a breakout star before his tournament ended in the quarter-finals. Bellingham scored seven goals for England, demonstrating significant energy and defensive capabilities. The forward line featured Lionel Messi, who defied his age at 39 to lead Argentina, and Kylian Mbappé, who won the Golden Boot with 10 goals, including two in the bronze medal match against England.
Norway’s Erling Haaland was also named in the Best XI for his debut performance, scoring seven goals and matching a record set by Poland’s Grzegorz Lato in 1974. Haaland’s impact extended beyond the pitch, engaging with fans in the United States through social media and consistent performances. Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha was also recognised for keeping a clean sheet against Spain and denying Messi in a defeat against Argentina, earning himself a place in World Cup history.
Conversely, ESPN’s Most Disappointing XI featured several high-profile players who failed to meet expectations. Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera made three errors leading to goals in his fifth World Cup, while Germany’s Joshua Kimmich struggled in a deployed right-back role. England’s Marc Guéhi and Nico O’Reilly were criticised for their performances in the semi-final and full-back positions respectively. Other notable inclusions were Virgil van Dijk, Federico Valverde, Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes, Florian Wirtz, Christian Pulisic, and Neymar, with the latter’s 37 minutes of play cited as a squad selection error by Brazil.
Additional accolades from BBC Sport reporters included goalkeeper awards for Haiti’s Johny Placide and England’s Jordan Pickford, with Pau Cubarsí named the best young player. Fan atmosphere awards went to Mexico, Brazil, and Norway, while the Mexico versus England match at the Azteca was highlighted as a standout fixture. The tournament concluded with Spain’s triumph, marking a significant shift in the global football hierarchy after Argentina’s elimination.
