Planet Football Picks Its Ideal XI, Led by Rodri, Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane, and Leaves Out Mbappé

Planet Football has picked its current ideal football XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation, featuring Rodri, Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane, while Kylian Mbappé is left out. The lineup includes players from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, according to the site's assessment.

Thibaut Courtois was selected in goal, with Achraf Hakimi at right-back and William Saliba and Pau Cubarsí alongside him in defence, while Nuno Mendes was chosen at left-back. The site praised their defensive roles and contributions to their clubs, and also noted Cubarsí's consistent level despite his young age.

Rodri and Vitinha were chosen to lead the midfield. The report noted Rodri's return to form after a period out with an injury, recalled his goal in the 2023 Champions League final and his selection as the best player at Euro 2024, as well as his Ballon d'Or win. It also praised Vitinha's ability to control the tempo of play and his outstanding performances for Paris Saint-Germain.

In attack, the site selected Lamine Yamal on the right, Jude Bellingham as playmaker and Raphinha on the left. It praised Yamal's impact in scoring, creating and dribbling, while linking its assessment of Bellingham to his rediscovery of his spark at the World Cup. It noted that some of his difficulties at Real Madrid stem, according to the report, from the team's balance. Raphinha was described as an important part of Barcelona's system, with the report noting that injuries affected his appearances during the 2025-2026 season and the World Cup.

Harry Kane led the attack, drawing on his goal tally for Bayern Munich and his ability to score and contribute to build-up play. The report said he scored 61 goals in all competitions last season, won the European Golden Shoe for the second time and scored six goals at the World Cup, before winning the 2026 Ballon d'Or, according to the published article. Mbappé's omission stood out in the site's selections, which pointed to difficulties in his chemistry with Real Madrid's other stars.

Alongside Courtois, Hakimi, Saliba, Cubarsí, Mendes, Rodri, Vitinha, Yamal, Bellingham, Raphinha and Kane, the final lineup included a mix of experienced players and emerging talents, in the site's description.