Ghana defender Marvin Senaya has been recognised among the elite performers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage after being included in Opta’s Best XI, following a string of commanding displays for the Black Stars.

The AJ Auxerre right-back featured in all three of Ghana’s group matches against Panama, England and Croatia, steadily growing in influence as the tournament progressed.

His most eye-catching performance came against England, where he produced a disciplined and authoritative defensive showing against a highly rated attacking unit.

Tasked with containing winger Anthony Gordon — who recently completed a high-profile €80 million move to Barcelona — Senaya came out on top in a duel that many expected would test him severely. 

Across the group stage, the Ghanaian defender combined consistency with high defensive output. He recorded the highest number of tackle attempts in the tournament so far with 18, and won 24 of his 38 duels, underlining his effectiveness in direct contests.

Advanced defensive metrics further highlighted his impact. In so-called “true tackle” situations — where defenders are credited for making contact with the ball even if possession is not fully regained — Senaya registered a 72.0% success rate, placing him among the top performers in that category.

His performances earned him a place in a defence that also includes Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, Spain’s Pau Cubarsí, Cape Verde’s Diney and Japan’s Nakamura, forming a back line praised for its consistency throughout the group stage.

The midfield selection features USA international Weston McKennie and Ecuador’s Pedro Vite, while the attack is led by a formidable trio of France’s Kylian Mbappé, Norway’s Erling Haaland and Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior. Argentina captain Lionel Messi also features, providing creativity and experience from the right flank.

What is Opta's Best XI?

Opta's Best XI is an ideal team line-up compiled by Opta Sports, a leading global sports data and analytics company. Rather than being chosen by a panel of journalists or fan votes, this team is selected strictly using advanced performance metrics, statistical data, and index scores.

Opta tracks thousands of discrete on-field actions per match — such as pass completion rates, duels won, true tackles, and chances created — to objectively determine the top-performing player in each position across a specific phase of a tournament.