Real Madrid News
Confirmed: Three Real Madrid players included in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Best XI
Despite seeing their key players getting omitted from rosters of several nations, Real Madrid players have been the highlight of the recently concluded 2026 FIFA World Cup.
From Marc Cucurella of Spain to Jude Bellingham of England, most Real Madrid players were on fire in the competition, to a point which led to the club questioning their lack of form at club level last season.
Three Real Madrid in World Cup XI
The performances of these Real Madrid players have been vindicated as three of them have been included in FIFA’s newly-released Team of the Tournament.
These players in question are Marc Cucurella, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.
All these players were in imperious form for their respective nations, with Mbappe notably winning the Golden Boot for his plaudits with France, even though it wasn’t enough to help them reach the final.
Part of the reason is Cucurella, whose defensive masterclass against France in the semifinal, coupled with his assists made him the best fullback in the tournament.
Cucurella also gelled well with the two centre-backs, making Spain a well-oiled machine when playing out from the back.
Bellingham, on the other hand, was the beating heart of the England attack, as his productivity almost led the Three Lions to the final, only to be undone by some late resurgence from Argentina.
Other Real Madrid players also did well
While the trio of Mbappe, Cucurella and Bellingham were surefire inclusions in the team of the tournament, other Real Madrid players also played well.
Vinicius Jr. was the only real attacking threat for a Brazilian team that could not go beyond the Round of 16 stage, especially with Rodrygo missing.
Denzel Dumfries also had an excellent World Cup campaign with the Netherlands, despite their early elimination from the tournament.
Brahim Diaz, too, was a creative outlet for a Morocco side that reached the quarterfinal stage, only to be beaten by France.
After three successive wins to start the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis came as a reality check for Real Madrid, who are still some way off matching the quality and consistency of Barcelona.
In light of the defeat, the Real Madrid coaching staff is analysing the best way to get the most out of the current setup.
More expected from Valverde
According to Defensa Central, one of the key conclusions drawn from the Betis defeat is that Real Madrid need greater involvement from Federico Valverde with the ball.
The Uruguayan has been deployed as the pivot, largely due to the absence of the injured Aurelien Tchouameni, but he is yet to make the step up in quality the team requires from that role.
While his effort and commitment are never in doubt, Mourinho and his staff, led by Sami Khedira, feel Valverde spends too much time positioned behind the opposition’s midfield line.
As a result, he fails to offer passing lanes to his teammates when they are under pressure, forcing them into hurried, aimless clearances rather than playing out cleanly from the back.
That concern has already been communicated to Valverde, who is still adapting to a position he has never truly played, making the challenge all the more difficult for him.
A collective issue to fix
However, the problem is not Valverde’s alone, with the coaching staff identifying a wider issue in the team’s structure.
Khedira has reportedly noted a certain passivity from the attackers in the videos of the match, particularly Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, when it comes to offering themselves as the ball transitions from midfield into attacking areas.
That lack of movement compounds the difficulties for the deeper midfielders.
Mourinho, for his part, remains unfazed by the departure of Rodri to Barcelona, insisting his squad has the tools to cope.
“I’m not missing Rodri. We have solutions, we have quality,” the Portuguese said, before adding that he backs his ability to improve players.
With a Champions League opener against Inter Milan on the horizon, Mourinho and his staff will be keen to iron out these issues quickly.
