No Barcelona players in the FIFA World Cup team of the tournament

The FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament has been unveiled, and one omission stands out above all others: not a single Barcelona player has made the starting XI. 

Despite several Blaugrana stars playing key roles throughout the competition, including Spain's World Cup triumph, the club has been left without representation in the tournament's best team, a decision that is already raising eyebrows among supporters.

Pau Cubarsí was perhaps the biggest surprise omission. The Barcelona defender was named the tournament's Best Young Player after a series of commanding performances at the heart of Spain's defence, helping La Roja keep seven clean sheets in eight matches while conceding just one goal throughout the competition.

It was also a disappointing outcome for the rest of Spain's back line. Neither Aymeric Laporte nor Unai Simón made the Team of the Tournament, with FIFA instead opting for Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano and Manchester United's Lisandro Martínez in central defence. The selections are likely to spark debate, given Spain's defensive dominance on their way to lifting the World Cup.

You could make a strong case that, aside from Pau Cubarsí, no other Barcelona player did enough to displace those selected in the Team of the Tournament. While few Blaugrana stars played important roles in Spain's World Cup triumph, few consistently produced standout performances across the competition, making Cubarsí's omission the only one that truly feels difficult to justify.

The other players

You could perhaps make a case for Jules Koundé at right-back ahead of Pedro Porro, but it is difficult to argue too strongly against the Tottenham defender after his performances throughout Spain's victorious campaign.

A debate comes up front. Erling Haaland leads the line despite Norway exiting in the quarter-finals, and while his seven goals were instrumental in their run, there is a compelling argument that Ferran Torres deserved the nod instead. The Barcelona forward not only produced decent numbers but also scored the most important goal of the tournament, netting the extra-time winner in the World Cup final to deliver Spain the trophy. When the stakes were at their highest, Torres delivered.

At least we have the honorary Los Cules in the team with Lionel Messi potentially bowing out with his greatest performance.

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