The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar may have ended, but thrilling goals and epic matches make it the most memorable edition to date for generations to come. The final between Argentina and France that saw the former bag home its third world title was also dubbed the best final ever in the history of the World Cup. In relation to this, we have handpicked our edition of the best XI in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with a 4-2-3-1 formation.
GK: Dominik Livaković (Croatia)
This has been a tough decision to make as Emiliano Martínez was a hero in La Albiceleste’s triumph in the World Cup, but we think that the Croatian shot stopper was by far the best player for the 2022 FIFA World Cup second runner-up. Two clean sheets in the group stage as well as saving multiple penalties in two shoot-outs against Japan and Brazil were the reasons why he is guarding the goal for our best XI.
RB: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Paris Saint-Germain’s Hakimi is not only the best right-back in the French Ligue 1, but the speedy defender also led the Atlas Lions to concede only one goal prior to the semifinal of the competition. His winning penalty against his birth country made Spain crushed out of the tournament despite starting it with a 7-0 victory over Costa Rica in the group stage.
CB: Joško Gvardiol (Croatia) and Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina)
Have you seen how much effort Lionel Messi had to make to beat past the 20-year old masked defender? Although his team eventually fell in the semifinal of the competition. His brilliance and no-nonsense defensive abilities will shoot his price tag up in the next transfer windows. Furthermore, we decided to add some experience to the defensive backline by bringing in the 34-year-old Otamendi who has been a force guarding the Argentine defence while its ferocious forwards attack the opposing goal.
LB: Theo Hernández (France)
Let us be honest, there were no outstanding left-backs in this year’s World Cup. Nonetheless, Theo Hernández, who came into the tournament as his older brother’s replacement was nice enough to fill this role on our team. Apart from being toyed by England’s Bukayo Saka in the quarterfinal, Hernández’s performance has been solid throughout the World Cup.
CM: Jude Bellingham (England) and Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)
England’s sensational run was sadly ended in the hands of the eventual runner-up, Les Bleus, but they can hold their heads high with a bright future ahead of them. In addition to the likes of Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, etc., Jude Bellingham’s contribution in the tournament was priceless, and we look forward to seeing him shine again in England’s next major tournaments.
His midfield partner is one without any doubts, Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat. If you wish to know why the Atlas Lions broke records like being the first African nation to be in the semifinal of the World Cup and almost won the continent’s first medal in the competition, ask Amrabat.
LW: Kylian Mbappé (France)
Eight goals and two assists in seven matches played, including a second hat-trick ever in the history of the final and scoring France’s first penalty in the shoot-out, do we need any more reasons to include the 24-year-old Paris-born forward in the best XI? The question now is, how soon will Mbappé break Miroslav Klose’s all-time goal scoring record in the World Cup (16)?
CAM: Antoine Griezmann (France)
The 2018 FIFA World Cup champion came into the tournament severely wounded, with many key players, especially in the back and midfield out injured. That prompted Didier Deschamps to transit Griezmann into new roles in the tournament. The hybrid player can now fill into positions such as the no. 6 and no. 8 roles in addition to his usual attacking positions. Quite a remarkable feat we would say.
RW: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
The GOAT (Greatest-of-All-Time) was the inaugural pick while plotting our best XI of the tournament. The Argentina captain came into the World Cup in red-hot form in Paris Saint-Germain’s matches this season, after a poor first season in France. He has been his usual self in this year’s tournament and overcame his embarrassment in the past for not scoring in the knockout stage before. Winning the World Cup too completed Messi’s trophy cabinet for good.
CF: Julián Álvarez (Argentina)
Batman’s Robin is on our list, beating France’s Olivier Giroud who was its second-best scorer in the tournament. The newly-crowned France’s all-time scorer was nonetheless great in all terms, but the young and volatile Álvarez was crucial and deadly in Argentina’s journey to winning it all. With four important goals in the quadrennial tournament, he is undoubtedly the best centre forward of the competition.
Do you know what is Argentina’s latest FIFA World Ranking after winning the World Cup? We have the details here.
(Photo Credits: Forbes)
