FIFA announces 28 candidates for the 2026 World Cup best XI, with Quiñones among the chosen
FIFA has released the official list of 28 players competing for a place in the 2026 World Cup best XI. The team will be decided by a fan vote, and one Mexican name shares the stage with the biggest stars in world football: Julián Quiñones made the list alongside Messi, Mbappé and Haaland.
Quiñones, the unlikely standout among giants
For many, the presence of the Mexican forward among the nominees was the surprise of the list. Quiñones delivered a consistent tournament with the Tricolor, and the numbers back the nomination: 6.83 points for attack, 6.75 for creativity and 5.29 for defensive work, according to the tournament’s official Power Ranking, where he finished tenth overall.
That’s no small feat. The Mexican appears on the same list of forward candidates as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Mikel Oyarzabal. Company that says plenty about the level of his performance during the competition. It’s worth noting Quiñones was born in Colombia and became a naturalized Mexican, choosing to represent Mexico.
The 28 names
In goal are Emiliano Martínez, Vozinha, Unai Simón, Jordan Pickford and Eloy Room. The defense gathers names such as Lisandro Martínez, Virgil van Dijk, Gabriel Magalhães, Cristian Romero and Marc Cucurella, plus Nuno Mendes, Dayot Upamecano and Pedro Porro.
In midfield, the group is particularly contested: Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, Luka Modrić, Rodri, Lamine Yamal, Enzo Fernández, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé and Ismael Saibari fight for the four spots typical of a lineup. Up front, besides Quiñones, the group is completed by Messi, Mbappé, Haaland, Kane and Oyarzabal.
How the vote works
The final choice rests with the fans. FIFA opened the vote on the governing body’s official platform, where any fan can pick the eleven starters of the tournament team. The popular vote mechanism for this kind of selection is already a World Cup tradition, but it has gained more weight with the rise of digital engagement in recent editions.
For Mexico, seeing Quiñones compete for a place with the game’s leading references is a sign that the country may be building a new generation of protagonists. The fan decides. For now, the score is open.
