Rodri named best player as Spain dominate 2026 World Cup awards; Mbappé wins Golden Boot

Rodri's crowning achievement

Spain captain Rodri was named the best player of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after leading his team to a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the final at East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Manchester City midfielder played all eight matches, accumulating 726 minutes, and was substituted only twice: in the group stage against Cape Verde (87th minute) and in the final (99th minute). He completed over 100 more passes in open play than any other player, according to tournament data, and was instrumental in the semi-final win over France. Rodri had previously been named best player of Euro 2024 and won the Ballon d'Or that same year, cementing his status as one of the world's elite midfielders.

Mbappé's historic Golden Boot

France's Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot as top scorer with 10 goals, two ahead of Lionel Messi. He secured the award with a brace in the third-place match, which France lost 6-4 to England. Mbappé also became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals, surpassing Messi's 21. His 10-goal haul equals Gerd Müller's 1970 tally; the record remains Just Fontaine's 13 in 1958. Mbappé, who had also been top scorer in 2022 with 8 goals, now has 66 goals in 107 appearances for France. Messi, who turned 39 during the tournament, finished with 8 goals and 4 assists but was held scoreless in the final.

Spanish defensive dominance

Spain's Unai Simón received the Golden Glove after conceding only one goal in 750 minutes of play, a strike by Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere in the quarter-finals. He succeeded Argentina's Emiliano Martinez as the award winner. The 19-year-old central defender Pau Cubarsí was named best young player, having played every minute and helped anchor a defense that kept seven clean sheets. Cubarsí was sent off at the end of regulation time in the final but his overall performance, marked by maturity and positional intelligence, earned him the award ahead of teammate Lamine Yamal, who managed only one goal and no assists.

Other awards and moments

Lionel Messi took the Silver Ball as second-best player, while Mbappé collected the Bronze Ball. Ferran Torres, scorer of the winning goal in the final, was named man of the match. The Fair Play award went to the Netherlands. The tournament, the first with 48 teams, spanned 38 days across the United States, Canada and Mexico, featuring 104 matches.

Memorable moments

Beyond the official awards, the tournament produced several standout moments. Messi scored a hat-trick against Algeria, reinforcing his legacy. Argentina's Julián Álvarez struck what was described as the best goal of the tournament, a curling shot into the top corner against Switzerland in extra time. The most thrilling match saw Cape Verde, the lowest-ranked team to reach the round of 16, push Argentina to the limit. Ecuador's victory over Germany was celebrated with a vibrant "Yellow Wall" atmosphere, while Mexico versus England was noted as the most intense encounter. A controversial decision to annul a red card for Folarin Balogun during the United States' match against Belgium drew widespread criticism.