By Barth Ikiebe
Vozinha, the Cape Verdean goalkeeper, is the only African named in the best eleven of the recently concluded 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Rodri and Jude Bellingham are some of the other stars in the Dream XI released by FIFA on Wednesday.
The 40-year-old Vozinha was one of the standout performers of the competition, and he made 18 saves to lead Cape Verde to a round-of-32 finish in the country’s World Cup debut.
Spain, newly crowned World champions, and France have three players apiece in the Dream XI, while Argentina has two representatives; Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham represent Norway and England.
Rodri, the tournament’s best player, leads a Spanish trio that includes fullbacks Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro. Michael Olise, the tournament’s highest assists provider with seven assists, and defender Dayot Upamecano joined Mbappe, the highest goalscorer, as the French stars on the team.
Messi, whose eight goals and four assists led Argentina to the final, where they lost to Spain, is joined by Lisandro Martinez.
Mbappe and Messi make the Dream XI for the second consecutive World Cup tournament, while others appear for the first time.
The World Cup Dream XI was voted by fans after the 48-nation tournament ended with Spain defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time to lift their second trophy, and first since 2010.
