The Independent's writers named their World Cup XI after 102 matches, and the selection is built around Lionel Messi's end product. He finished with 8 goals and 4 assists in 7 appearances, the sort of output that puts him at the centre of any tournament team. Spain supply the other major storyline, with a back line that helped them concede only 1 goal in 7 matches.
Messi's numbers drive the selection
Messi's run through the tournament was impossible to ignore. He scored 8 and assisted 4, and the variation in those goals tells you how complete the impact was. The Independent's writers also pointed to a sequence that included 3 goals against Algeria, 2 against Australia, 1 against Jordan, 1 goal and 1 assist against Egypt, and 2 assists against England.
The panel described him as a near-certainty to win the golden ball for a third time, which is about as direct a nod as a tournament XI can give. Kylian Mbappé was another obvious inclusion after also reaching 8 goals, but Messi's all-round influence gives the selection its clearest statistical anchor.
Spain's defensive case
Spain's case is simpler, and just as strong. They conceded only 1 goal across 7 matches, a record that explains why Rodri and the rest of the back-line story are prominent in the XI. Rodri captained a side that reached the final, and the defensive figure is the one that stands out most cleanly.
Pedro Porro and Vozinha are part of the wider picture too, but this is still a team led by output at one end and control at the other. Messi provided the volume in attack, Spain provided the resistance, and that is the logic behind The Independent's pick.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
