Rodri Claims Golden Ball, Mbappé Secures Golden Boot as FIFA Announces World Cup Awards
Spain's champions swept three major individual honors, with Kylian Mbappé taking home the top scorer award.
The story
Following Spain's triumph in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, FIFA announced the tournament's individual awards, recognizing the standout performers. Spain's midfield maestro, Rodri, was awarded the prestigious Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, a testament to his commanding performances throughout Spain's undefeated run.
Goalkeeper Unai Simón secured the Golden Glove for his exceptional goalkeeping, having kept seven clean sheets in eight matches and conceding only one goal across the entire tournament. Young defender Pau Cubarsí completed Spain's sweep, earning the Best Young Player Award for his composed displays at just 19 years old.
Meanwhile, France's Kylian Mbappé claimed his second consecutive Golden Boot, finishing as the top scorer with an impressive 10 goals. Lionel Messi received the Silver Ball and Silver Boot, while Jude Bellingham earned the Bronze Boot.
Where it stands
The FIFA World Cup 2026 concluded with Spain lifting their second World Cup trophy, having demonstrated remarkable defensive solidity by conceding only one goal throughout the entire tournament. Post-tournament individual honors were largely dominated by the champions, with Rodri earning the Golden Ball as the best player, Unai Simón receiving the Golden Glove for his record-setting seven clean sheets, and Pau Cubarsí named the Best Young Player.
France's Kylian Mbappé was recognized with the Golden Boot for his 10 goals. The Spanish squad returned home on Monday, July 20th, to a massive celebration in Madrid, with an estimated two million people lining the streets to greet their victorious team.
Off the pitch
| Player | From | To | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Rogers | Aston Villa | Chelsea | £117 million |
| Lucas Digne | Aston Villa | Paris Saint-Germain | Release clause triggered |
| Christ Inao Oulaï | Trabzonspor | Fiorentina | €26 million |
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