Lionel Messi was denied both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards after Argentina lost the 2026 FIFA World Cup final to Spain 1-0 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Ferran Torres scored a 106th-minute winner to ensure that the European champions won their second title.
Rodri was awarded the prize after being key to Spain’s success in the tournament. The Spanish skipper has added to the growing list of honors in his career after being the Player of the Tournament (POTT) in the 2024 Euros. He also is among a rare list of midfielders to win the Ballon d’Or by securing the covered prize two years ago.
Meanwhile, Spain clean swept the awards as teenage center back Pau Cubarsi was given the Young Player award, while Unai Simon won the Golden Ball after a remarkable campaign in which Spain conceded just two goals.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe was given the golden boot after scoring 10 goals and also assisting four times. Messi scored eight times in the tournament and also created four goals. The Frenchman sealed the prize in France’s 4-6 defeat to England in the third-place playoff, where he scored twice. Messi was leading the race after two semi-finals, but he failed to score in the final.
Mbappé also ends the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the all-time highest goal scorer in the tournament with 22 goals, while Messi is second with 21 goals. No other player has scored more than 16 goals, which was Miraslav Klose’s record since 2014.
FIFA World Cup 2026 – All Award Winners
Golden Ball – Rodri
Silver Ball – Lionel Messi
Bronze Ball – Kylian Mbappe
Golden Shoe – Kylian Mbappe
Silver Shoe – Lionel Messi
Bronze Shoe – Erling Haaland
Young Player of the Tournament – Pau Cubarsi
FIFA Fair Play Award – Netherlands
Golden Glove – Unai Simon
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