Mike Maignan, N’Golo Kanté, Karim Benzema… All these football stars could find themselves free from any contract in the summer of 2026. A few months before the World Cup across the Atlantic, the contractual situation of many players raises questions. In this context, Foot Mercato offers you a typical eleven of free players in 2026, organized in 4-3-3, a very high level team, capable of competing with the best European teams…
In the cages, Mike Maignan stands out as obvious. Brilliant with AC Milan this season, he reaches the end of his contract in June and has still not extended. Courted by several European big names, the French international (37 selections) could be one of the major files on the market. On the right side, Dani Carvajal brings experience at the highest level, even if he has had a string of injuries for several months. Left, Andrew Robertsonwhose future at Liverpool remains uncertain and who is in competition this season with Milos Kerkez, establishes himself as a natural starter. In the central hinge, the French Dayot Upamecano et Ibrahima Konate would make any coach salivate. If the Bayern Munich defender is having a huge season, the Liverpool defender is in a little more difficulty and often singled out for his defensive errors. But he still remains a high-quality player who would make any major European club happy.
An eleven with quite a few French people!
In the middle, experience speaks. As a sentinel and despite his 34 years, N’Glo Kantity remains a unique profile. Even if he has now been playing in Saudi Arabia since 2023, he is still called up to the French team by Didier Deschamps and should be one of the players called up for the next 2026 World Cup. At his side, Leon Goretzka brings projection and physical impact. Despite his 1108 minutes played this season, the German midfielder seems to have arrived at the end of his cycle at Bayern Munich. The former Schalke 04 player has not started a single Champions League match this season, with Kompany preferring the Kimmich-Pavlović association in the middle. A notch higher, Bernardo Silva would embody the appropriate conductor. The Portuguese midfielder from Manchester City is the only player from this team to have formalized his departure, once his current contract ends.
On the wings, the spectacle would be guaranteed. Right, Angel Di Maria embodies the experience and the view, he who returned to Rosario Central last summer. The ex-Argentine international, who won everything with the Albiceleste, still has plenty left, at 37 (seven goals and three assists in 16 games). Cutting edge, Karim Benzema would lead the attack. The 2022 Ballon d’Or, who has just celebrated his 37th birthday and whose future at Al Ittihad has not yet been sealed, could return to Europe for a final challenge before hanging up his boots.
A team capable of shaking up the best teams in Europe and where other players are applying like Manuel Neuer, Marc Guehi, Casemiro, Paulo Dybala, Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski…
Typical team: Maignan – Carvajal, Upamecano, Konaté, Robertson – Kanté, Goretzka, Bernardo Silva – Di María, Benzema, Mané
Substitutes: Neuer – Clauss, Rüdiger, Guehi, Guerreiro – Casemiro, Koke, Dybala – Gnabry, Lewandowski, Werner
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