■ Right back: Achraf Hakimi (Mar) The rock of the Atlas Lions’ defence was brilliant in Qatar. Not many can boast of pace to keep up with his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappé. Also, has a calm head as evident from his winning penalty in the Last-16 tiebreaker with Spain which he sealed with a cheeky Panenka.

Josko Gvardiol. File picture

■ Centre back: Josko Gvardiol (Cro) He was superb throughout except for those few seconds in the semi-final when he was outrun and outfoxed by Lionel Messi. No shame in that. Gvardiol remains a man to look out for.

Romain Saïss. File picture

■ Centre back: Romain Saïss (Mar) Was a tricky choice between Saïss and Argentina’s Nicolás Otamendi. But our vote is for the Morocco captain who was key to the outstanding defence of this team that didn’t allow any goal from any opposition foot until the semi-finals.

Theo Hernández. File picture

■ Left back: Theo Hernández (Fra) Another difficult choice because there were no real standout performances. But we will go with the Frenchman. Theo replaced his brother Lucas a few minutes into France’s World Cup campaign and provided Les Bleus with new energy, especially down the flank. Wasn’t at his best in the final but he pips Marcos Acuña to the spot.

Kylian Mbappé. File picture

■ Left winger: Kylian Mbappé (Fra) The man who turned 24 on Tuesday deserves the World Cup. In the absence of Karim Benzema, Mbappe carried France on his young and broad shoulders, including turning the final on its head with his hat-trick, the second man to do so after England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966. Few could match his pace and power from start to finish. The world stage could well belong to him from hereon.

Emiliano Martínez. File picture

■ Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez (Arg) The Golden Glove winner who helped his team beat the Netherlands in the quarter final shootout and then again blocked a crucial shot in the final penalty tie-breaker. Not to forget his heroic save to deny Randal Kolo Muani in the dying minutes of extra time of the pulsating final. That ball was going in and if it had, it would have been curtains for Argentina. Martinez makes it just ahead of Croatia’s Dominik Livakovic.

Lionel Messi. File picture

■ Right Winger: Lionel Messi (Arg) The Argentina wizard finally laid his hands on the trophy he coveted the most. His role can’t be defined, in many ways he’s the complete footballer. He was inspirational, especially after the team was down following the shock loss to Saudi Arabia in the opening game. The 35-year-old became the first player ever to score in every round of the World Cup. The Golden Ball award is justly his.

Jude Bellingham. File picture

■ Central midfielder: Jude Bellingham (Eng) The England teenager who plies his trade in Germany was easily the best player of the squad, often driving the team singlehandedly with occasional support from Bukayo Saka. Players like Bellingham will carry England’s hope in 2026.

Sofyan Amrabat. File picture

■ Central midfielder: Sofyan Amrabat (Mar) The Morocco playmaker was easily the most dogged. He reads the game well, has the stamina and strength to cover a lot of ground and has an uncanny ability to win the ball — abilities that helped Morocco’s run to the semi-finals, a first for an African nation. No wonder Liverpool are interested in this Fiorentina midfielder.

Antoine Griezmann. File picture

■ Central attacking midfielder: Antoine Griezmann (Fra) Ok, the Frenchman wasn’t at his best in the final but was hugely responsible for Didier Deschamps not feeling the absence of his injured stars like Paul Pogba and N Golo Kante. The Atletico Madrid player took on an unfamiliar No. 8 role to combine with the forward three in attack while also controlling the game behind.

Julian Alvarez. File picture

■ Striker: Julian Alvarez (Arg) The 22-year-old started the tournament as a substitute, but forced his way into Argentina’s starting XI at the expense of Lautaro Martinez with match-winning displays that gave him four goals. Alvarez was nicknamed “the spider” because he could, like a spider catching a fly and confining it to its web, control a football and send it into the back of the net.

■ Coach: Walid Regragui (Morocco)

■ Players who missed the cut — Goalkeeper: Dominik Livaković (Cro); Defenders: Harry Maguire (Eng), Raphaël Varane (Fra); Midfielders: Luka Modric (Cro), Azzedine Ounahi (Mar), Enzo Fernandez (Arg); Forwards: Cody Gakpo (Ned), Richarlison (Bra), Olivier Giroud (Fra)

■ Young guns to watch out for — Josko Gvardiol (Cro), Jude Bellingham (Eng), Julian Álvarez (Arg), Gonçalo Ramos (Por), Enzo Fernández (Arg), Jamal Musiala (Ger)

■ Best goals — Kylian Mbappé, France vs Argentina, Final; Richarlison, Brazil vs Serbia group stage; Julian Alvarez (from a Messi assist), Argentina vs Croatia, Semi-final; Wout Weghorst (second goal), Netherlands vs Argentina, Quarter final; Angel Di Maria, Argentina vs France, Final