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Messi and surprise Vozinha vie for spot in 2026 World Cup Ideal XI

From El Comercio · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • FIFA is allowing fans to vote for the 2026 World Cup Ideal XI.
  • Players from Spain and Argentina are prominent among the 28 candidates, including Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.
  • Goalkeeper Vozinha from Cape Verde is a surprise inclusion in the selection.

FIFA has opened voting for fans to select the 2026 World Cup Ideal XI, featuring 28 players. Among the candidates are five from Spain, the reigning champions, and several from Argentina.

Spain's representatives include Unai Simón, Pedro Porro, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Rodri Hernández, who was awarded the World Cup Golden Ball. Notably, Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsí, key defenders from the tournament's least-conceded defense, are absent.

Argentina's nominees are Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez, Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Enzo Fernández, and Lionel Messi. Kylian Mbappé, the tournament's top scorer with 10 goals and its all-time leader with 22, also features prominently.

The full list of candidates includes goalkeepers Vozinha (Cape Verde), ‘Dibu’ Martínez (Argentina), Unai Simón (Spain), Jordan Pickford (England), and Eloy Room (Curacao). Defenders nominated are Lisandro Martínez and ‘Cuti’ Romero (Argentina), Nuno Mendes (Portugal), Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro (Spain), Virgil Van Dijk (Netherlands), Gabriel Magalhaes (Brazil), and Dayot Upamecano (France).

Midfielders in contention are Jude Bellingham (England), Ousmane Dembelé and Michael Olise (France), Vinícius Jr. (Brazil), Enzo Fernández (Argentina), Luka Modric (Croatia), Ismael Saibari (Morocco), Rodri Hernández, and Lamine Yamal (Spain). Forwards include Lionel Messi (Argentina), Kylian Mbappé (France), Erling Haaland (Norway), Harry Kane (England), Julián Andrés Quiñones (Mexico), and Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain).

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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