Our World Cup all-star XI
Leftback: Diego Laxalt (Uruguay)
The left-sided Genoa midfielder was a force field for Uruguay — as aggressive as he was creative, with apparently unlimited energy. He played in an advanced wingback role, but we’ve selected him here at fullback on the strength of his heroic defensive work.
Centreback: Yerry Mina (Colombia)
The Barcelona giant’s three goals and fearsome combativeness get him the nod, in a tournament in which no defence has been watertight.
Centreback: Domagoj Vida (Croatia)
The Besiktas defender looks like a lost refugee from a 1990s skatepunk band, but he is no punk in the penalty box. Fast, fierce and disciplined, Vida is as good as his haircut is bad.
Rightback: Benjamin Pavard (France)
That insane volley against Argentina is still the goal of the tournament — a tour de force of audacity, power and finesse. Pavard is also a sparkling technician in defence, so he is bound to find a bigger home than Stuttgart, with superclubs WhatsApping him as we speak.
Central midfielder: N’Golo Kanté (France)
The silent assassin of opposition dreams, Kanté is the core of France’s power and resilience at this tournament. Whether he’s pressing or retreating, whether cooling or accelerating the tempo, the little Chelsea destroyer is always in command.
Central midfielder: Luka Modric (Croatia)
The player of the tournament, on the strength of his ability to control entire games, rather than merely to shine in flashes like the other contenders. Canny, tireless, elegant and selfless.
Attacking midfielder: Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium)
He didn’t quite do himself justice in the semifinal against France, but against Brazil the Chelsea playmaker was the heart of Belgium’s masterclass. Eden Hazard may have worn the number 10 jersey, but De Bruyne was the real custodian of the number.
Left wing: Ivan Perisic (Croatia)
The sleeper hit of the tournament. In the early games, the Inter Milan star was good, but was largely overshadowed by his fellow wide forward, Ante Rebic. Cut to the semifinal and he scored a cracker of an equaliser, then rattled the bar, then provided the savvy headed pass for the winner by Mario Mandzukic.
Striker: Harry Kane (England)
Faded as England’s campaign wore on, but gets his place in our XI on the strength of topping the Golden Boot standings. A cultured, regal finisher, he’s the pick of an iffy cohort of centreforwards at this tournament.
Right wing: Kylian Mbappé (France)
His mercurial brilliance against Argentina has not quite returned, but he is the coming man of world football. Mbappé has an appetite for theatrics and gamesmanship, perhaps absorbed under the tutelage of Neymar, his PSG comrade — but it’s all part of the art of winning.