FIFA World Cup team of the tournament leaves football fans fuming | Football | Sport
Fans are fuming that Pau Cubarsi and Unai Simon are not in the World Cup team of the tournament. The Golden Glove recipient and Young Player Award winner were both bizarrely left out of the XI despite Spain’s success.
A vote by fans instead selected social media sensation Vozinha, despite the Cape Verde goalkeeper only playing half as many games, albeit keeping a clean sheet against the eventually winners and making 18 saves across four matches. Dayot Upemecano and Lisandro Martinez were the two central defenders who made it in ahead of Cubarsi, even though the latter only kept two clean sheets for runners-up Argentina.
Fans online have hit out that Spain’s goalkeeper and the teenage centre-back have been overlooked. Following a FIFA social media post revealing the side, many voiced their opinions.
One commented: “Golden glove winner is not the GK of the tournament. What a joke.” Another asked: “Why is there no Cubarsi in the defence?”
A further user responded on X: “This should be a prank, right? Where’s Cubarsi? Where’s Simon, who collected the Golden Glove?” One more questioned: “Martinez over Cubarsi? Are we for real… him, Laporte and Unai kept it only one goal all World Cup.”
There were, though, fewer objections regarding the remainder of the side. England star Jude Bellingham, Michael Olise and Rodri comprise the midfield trio.
Yet despite claiming the Golden Ball, Spain’s captain secured just 15% of the vote — a figure considerably short of Bronze Boot winner Bellingham’s 29% and Olise’s 19%.
Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi make up the front three. This summer’s Golden Boot and Bronze Ball winner leads the vote with nearly 30%, with Haaland close behind on 27% and Messi at 22%, despite boasting a Silver Ball and Silver Boot to match his runners-up medal.
The vote remained open for 48 hours following the World Cup final. Fans also cast their ballots for the standout players — one goalkeeper, one defender, one midfielder and one forward — after every round throughout the tournament to compile a shortlist.
The four winners from each round secured their place on the shortlist, joining “additional players identified by FIFA based on their performances during the tournament.” Cubarsi failed to top the defender vote in seven rounds of voting.
Simon did earn his spot with nearly 45% of the goalkeeper vote following the semi-finals. Vozinha, however, averaged 50% when triumphing in round one and the round of 32.
