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This year’s FIFA World Cup 2026 has been filled with star-studded performances across various teams, with several big names carrying their nations deep into the competition.

Even the smaller sides like Cape Verde have treated fans to thrilling contests and inspiring stories. However, not every star delivered on the grandest stage of all.

Some of football’s most renowned players have faltered under the scorching heat of the Americas. While the race for the Golden Boot remains intense, an equally intriguing question has emerged — who makes it into the tournament’s Flop XI?

With a defence leaking goals, a midfield that parts like the Red Sea, and a forward line boasting a combined age of 112, this team of underachievers would at least guarantee entertainment.

For one Uruguayan legend, this selection was inevitable. In Uruguay’s defeat to Spain, his costly mistake sealed their premature exit from the tournament.

Reports suggest Fernando Muslera even requested to be substituted at half-time, but by then, the damage was already irreversible.

As captain of Germany, Joshua Kimmich bears part of the responsibility for his nation’s disappointing elimination. While not entirely his fault, Kimmich’s international spell has coincided with Germany’s continued struggles in major tournaments since his debut.

Perhaps unfortunate to find himself in this lineup, he nonetheless shares the blame by association. Jurgen Klopp will have work to do to restore his confidence.

Kalidou Koulibaly’s performance in the last 32 round will go down as one of the most shocking collapses in football history. With Senegal leading 2-0 and less than five minutes of normal time remaining, they somehow contrived to gift Belgium a spot in the next round.

Defeat to Belgium was painful enough, but Koulibaly’s disastrous display against Norway — arguably the worst individual performance of the tournament — ensured his inclusion here. His output continues to fall short of his reputation.

Manchester United supporters will hardly be surprised by this next name. Victor Lindelöf seemed rejuvenated after joining Aston Villa, yet at the World Cup, he returned to his old, error-prone form.

Under the direction of the tactically limited Graham Potter, Lindelöf showed about as much threat as a harmless moth.

Another lesser-known figure earns his place purely by default, as few others played his position. His record of zero tackles, zero clearances, and zero blocks before his red card against Canada speaks for itself. That alone justifies his inclusion.

After being voted Premier League Player of the Season, big things were expected from Portugal’s Bruno Fernandes. Unfortunately, his World Cup campaign was defined more by his arm-waving frustration than his actual contributions.

One assist across the tournament was never going to carry Portugal far.

As Scotland’s Tartan Army arrived in the USA, their hopes rested heavily on Scott McTominay. His spectacular overhead goal against Denmark had secured Scotland’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years.

However, once the tournament began, McTominay failed to make an impact. Against Haiti, he didn’t even manage a shot on target, leaving fans disillusioned.

Words like inspired, talismanic, and unstoppable cannot be used to describe Federico Valverde’s campaign. Uruguay’s football was slow, lifeless, and predictable, and as captain, Valverde failed to inspire any change as his side crashed out early.

Neymar’s inclusion in Brazil’s squad proved to be a mistake. After an injury-hit season, his limited appearances were ineffective and uncomfortable to watch. His frustration boiled over when cameras caught him hurling abuse at Norway’s goalkeeper after scoring a meaningless penalty with the final kick of the match — a sad end to his World Cup career.

Enner Valencia endured a nightmare tournament. Despite a career filled with goals, he failed to find the net once. Statistically, he was the top underperformer in expected goals, with metrics suggesting he should have scored six. Instead, he left goalless and frustrated.

At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo’s inclusion was always going to divide opinion. While expectations were tempered, few anticipated such a flat performance. His World Cup resembled that of a once-great singer refusing to leave the stage, his voice long gone, yet still clinging to past glory.

Ronaldo played far too many minutes, and it was evident that the effects of his time in Saudi Arabia had caught up with him.

Even Carlo Ancelotti, one of the most decorated managers in football, could not escape scrutiny. Despite his usual calm on the touchline, Brazil’s shock defeat to Norway exposed tactical missteps and questionable substitutions, leaving him powerless against the Nordic resurgence.