Kolkata: Rodri, Pau Cubarsi, Unai Simon and Kylian Mbappe all picked up honours as the FIFA World Cup 2026 reached a spectacular climax.
Following the conclusion of a thrilling FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA handed out the tournament’s individual awards.
Spain’s Rodri, who was masterful in midfield across the eight matches for for La Roja, took home the adidas Golden Ball Award for the tournament’s best player, as Spain lifted the trophy for a second time.
Despite just falling short of reaching a third successive final, France superstar Kylian Mbappe scored an astounding ten goals in just eight matches to collect the Golden Boot Award.
Unai Simon of Spain was awarded the adidas Golden Glove Award after recording seven clean sheets in eight matches, including in the 1-0 extra-time final win over Argentina.
Spain won the World Cup for second time, with first one in 2010. Argentina were the runners up.
Pau Cubarsi continued a superb start to his sparkling career with the FIFA Best Young Player Award, presented by Aramco, after playing a crucial role in the Spain defence that only conceded one goal during the tournament.
Read on for a full list of the award winners below.
Golden Ball – Rodri (Spain)
Spain midfielder Rodri collected the Golden Ball award, given to the best overall player in the tournament. While he did not record a single goal or assist in Spain’s eight matches, he completed more passes, ran more distance and had more player involvements than any other player in this year’s tournament.
He also played a key role in heavily limiting Messi’s touches during Spain’s stifling 1-0 win.
Rodri edged out Messi from this win, too, as the Argentinian captain settled for the Silver Ball and Mbappe took home the Bronze.
Golden Boot – Kylian Mbappe (France)
At 27, Mbappe can confidently call himself the best striker in the world with the most World Cup goals in history (22) and the most at this tournament (10).
He snatched back the award from Lionel Messi after netting twice in France’s third-place match against England, which the Three Lions ultimately won 6-4.
With 10 goals and 4 assists, Mbappe edged out Messi’s eight goals and four assists to win the coveted award, which the Frenchman has won a record two times now.
Golden Gloves – Unai Simon (Spain)
Unai Simon with seven clean sheets, two more than the previous record for a single World Cup.
The 29-year-old’s nine career World Cup clean sheets are one off the record of 10 shared by former France keeper Fabien Barthez and former England keeper Peter Shilton.
FIFA Young Player Award – Pau Cubarsi (Spain)
Pau Cubarsi, teenager was Spain’s best 19-year-old at the World Cup, comfortably outshining Lamine Yamal and any other player at the tournament born on or after Jan. 1, 2005 to be crowned the best Young Player.
This soccer stuff may be going alright, but Cubarsí has a back-up plan: “If one day football doesn’t go so well, carpentry will always be there, that’s clear.”
FIFA Fair Play Trophy – Netherlands
FIFA World Cup 2026 Winner – Spain
FIFA World Cup 2026 Runner – Argentina.
