Rodri, Mbappe Head FIFA World Cup 2026 Award Winners
Spain’s World Cup triumph was followed by a sweep of the leading individual honours. Rodri won the Golden Ball, Unai Simon secured the Golden Glove, and Pau Cubarsi was named Best Young Player, while Kylian Mbappe claimed the Golden Boot with 10 goals.The FIFA World Cup 2026 full awards list was dominated by Spain after La Roja defeated Argentina 1-0 following extra time in the final on Sunday, July 19. Rodri, Unai Simon, and Pau Cubarsi collected three of the tournament’s biggest individual honours, while France captain Kylian Mbappe finished as the leading goalscorer.
Spain secured their second World Cup title through Ferran Torres’ decisive goal in the 106th minute at the New York-New Jersey Stadium. The result ended Argentina’s attempt to win consecutive World Cups and completed an outstanding tournament for Spain.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Major Award Winners
Golden Ball: Rodri – Spain
Spain captain Rodri was named the best player of the tournament and received the Golden Ball. The midfielder controlled matches from the centre of the pitch, protected Spain’s defence, and played a vital role in the team’s possession-based approach.
Rodri also produced exceptional passing numbers during the competition and captained Spain to only their second men’s World Cup title. His influence was particularly important in a campaign where Spain conceded only one goal across eight matches.
Golden Boot: Kylian Mbappe – France
Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot after scoring 10 goals during the tournament. The French forward finished two goals ahead of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who ended the competition with eight.
Mbappe strengthened his position at the top of the scoring chart by finding the net twice during France’s 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place match. The award was his second consecutive World Cup Golden Boot after he scored eight goals at Qatar 2022.
The French captain also became the leading goalscorer in men’s World Cup history, reaching 22 goals across three editions of the tournament. His 2026 performance followed four goals in 2018 and eight in 2022.
Golden Glove: Unai Simon – Spain
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón received the Golden Glove following an exceptional defensive campaign. Simon kept seven clean sheets in eight matches and conceded only once during Spain’s journey to the title.
His calm distribution, positioning, and shot-stopping provided stability behind Spain’s defence. The goalkeeper’s record also reflected the collective strength of a backline that remained difficult to break down throughout the expanded 48-team tournament.
Best Young Player: Pau Cubarsi – Spain
Pau Cubarsi was named the FIFA Young Player of the Tournament after establishing himself as an important member of Spain’s title-winning defence.
The 19-year-old centre-back displayed composure beyond his age, contributing through his positioning, passing, and ability to handle some of the tournament’s leading attackers. Cubarsi received the award ahead of several highly rated young players, including Spanish teammate Lamine Yamal.
Spain Dominates World Cup 2026 Individual Awards
Spain’s success in three major award categories highlighted the balance of their championship-winning squad. Rodri controlled the midfield, Simon protected the goal, and Cubarsi emerged as one of the tournament’s brightest young defenders.
Mbappe was the only player from outside the Champions League to win one of the four leading individual awards. His 10-goal campaign ensured that France still had a major individual success despite missing out on another appearance in the World Cup final.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Awards List
- Golden Ball: Rodri, Spain
- Golden Boot: Kylian Mbappe, France – 10 goals
- Golden Glove: Unai Simon, Spain
- Best Young Player: Pau Cubarsi, Spain