The FIFA World Cup 2026 just wrapped, and while Spain lifted the trophy, it was Real Madrid making some serious noise in the post-tournament awards. Three of their stars, Marc Cucurella, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham, earned spots on the fan-voted FIFA World Cup Best XI, proving their campaigns truly stood out.
Real Madrid’s Dominance in the Best XI
It’s a huge deal to have one player make the Best XI, but three? That’s just wild. Diario AS confirmed the fan selections, and these three Los Blancos players absolutely deserved their spots. Marc Cucurella, who Real Madrid actually signed right before the tournament started, was a vital piece for Spain as they went on to win the whole damn thing. He stayed a key player for Luis de la Fuente’s squad the entire way, showcasing exactly why Madrid scooped him up. Talk about an immediate impact!
Mbappe and Bellingham’s Unforgettable World Cup
Then you’ve got the goal machines themselves. Kylian Mbappe led France’s attack, and dude was absolutely relentless, bagging a whopping 10 goals to win the Golden Boot. Ten goals! That kind of output doesn’t just happen. Jude Bellingham was equally spectacular for England, finding the back of the net 7 times for the Three Lions. These guys weren’t just playing; they were **starring**. The full Best XI roster really highlights their incredible efforts: Vozinha from Cape Verde in goal, a defensive line of Porro (Spain), Lisandro (Argentina), Upamecano (France), and Cucurella (Spain). Midfield featured Rodri (Spain), Olise (France), and our very own Bellingham. Up front, it was Mbappe (France), Haaland (Norway), and Messi (Argentina). That’s a serious lineup, no doubt about it.
Who Didn’t Make the Cut and Looking Ahead
Of course, when you have a team this stacked, some big names are going to miss out. Harry Kane, the English star, was a notable absence, with Mbappe pulling in the highest number of votes among the forwards. Defenders like Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte also didn’t make the list. We even saw another Real Madrid player, Vinicius Junior, have a solid World Cup, but his Brazil team got knocked out in the Round of 16. That meant he couldn’t show off his full talent in those critical late-tournament games, which is a bummer. But still, having Cucurella, Bellingham, and Mbappe recognized like this is a massive point of pride for Real Madrid. We can only hope these guys keep up this insane level of play when the upcoming season kicks off. They’ve set the bar sky-high!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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