Team of nightmares: The worst XI of World Cup

While the floodlights at MetLife Stadium shone on football's new world champions and confetti rained down around the World Cup trophy, another story unfolded away from the celebrations. Hidden behind Spain's triumph were the players whose performances turned the tournament into a nightmare.

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It's easy to celebrate the stars who delivered, but there's something equally compelling—if far more ruthless—about shining a light on those who failed to live up to expectations. That's exactly what renowned American broadcaster ESPN has done.

Respected journalist Mark Ogden has put together his official World Cup "Worst XI"—an anti-Team of the Tournament featuring 11 players who arrived in the United States carrying superstar reputations, enormous transfer fees and sky-high expectations, only to leave with their stock significantly diminished.

And the names on that list are truly astonishing.

Goalkeeper

Fernando Muslera (Uruguay) – Returning for a fifth World Cup after reversing his international retirement, the veteran goalkeeper endured a tournament to forget. The 40-year-old was directly responsible for three goals and was replaced at halftime of Uruguay's decisive group-stage clash with Spain, bringing a disappointing end to his World Cup story.

Defenders

Joshua Kimmich (Germany) – Rather than using Kimmich in his preferred midfield role, Germany once again shifted him to right back—a position he rarely occupied for Bayern Munich last season. The experiment failed badly, with the captain struggling throughout Germany's disappointing campaign.

Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands) – The Dutch defense never looked convincing, conceding five goals in four matches, and their captain couldn't inspire the back line. Van Dijk also drew criticism after declining to take a penalty in the shootout defeat to Morocco, leaving younger teammates to shoulder the responsibility.

Marc Guehi (England) – Reliable for much of the tournament, Guehi faltered when England needed him most. Against Argentina in the semifinals, he looked hesitant on the ball, reacted too slowly in key moments and failed to produce the commanding display expected from one of the country's top defenders.

Nico O'Reilly (England) – Although accustomed to filling in at fullback for Manchester City, O'Reilly never looked comfortable in the role on the biggest stage. Naturally a midfielder, he struggled defensively throughout the tournament as opponents repeatedly targeted his lack of experience in the position.

Midfielders

Federico Valverde (Uruguay) – Uruguay's campaign unraveled amid disappointing performances and growing tension within the squad, and Valverde was unable to provide the leadership or inspiration expected from Real Madrid's midfield star. His influence was minimal as Uruguay crashed out of a group they were expected to survive.

Scott McTominay (Scotland) – McTominay arrived full of confidence after an excellent season with Napoli and his memorable qualification heroics, but none of that translated to the World Cup. His performances lacked energy, creativity and impact, making him one of Scotland's biggest disappointments.

Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) – Brilliant for Manchester United, anonymous for Portugal. Fernandes once again struggled to replicate his club form in a major international tournament, rarely controlling games or producing the decisive moments Portugal desperately needed.

Forwards

Florian Wirtz (Germany) – Questions over Wirtz's consistency only grew louder after another underwhelming tournament. Following an inconsistent first season at Liverpool, the German playmaker failed to make any real impact for his country and now faces enormous pressure to justify his £116.5 million price tag.

Christian Pulisic (United States) – Pulisic exploded into the tournament with an excellent first-half display against Paraguay before an injury forced him off at the break. Although he later returned, he never regained that level and was unable to influence the United States when it mattered most.

Neymar (Brazil) – Neymar's inclusion in Brazil's squad proved highly questionable. Hampered by recurring fitness issues, the veteran featured for just 37 minutes across the tournament, leaving many wondering why he was selected at all. His place could have gone to a younger, fitter player such as Chelsea forward Joao Pedro, making the decision look even more difficult to justify.