LR: Spaniard Pau Cobarci, Rodri and goalkeeper Unai Simon pose with their individual trophies. (AP photo)
Spain’s historic triumph at the 2026 World Cup was reflected in the tournament’s individual honours, with Rodri, Unai Simon and Pau Cobarci claiming three of the biggest awards, while France captain Kylian Mbappe claimed the Golden Boot after another impressive goal-scoring campaign.After Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium, FIFA announced the winners of its prestigious post-tournament awards, honoring the outstanding players in the biggest World Cup in history.
Rodri was awarded the Ballon d’Or after producing a string of strong performances in midfield throughout Spain’s unbeaten run to the title. It was the Manchester City midfielder who controlled the tempo in almost every match, finishing off an impressive tournament by helping La Roja to their second FIFA World Cup title.Goalkeeper Unai Simon added another trophy to Spain’s celebrations after winning the Golden Glove award. Simón was the backbone of Spain’s formidable defence, keeping seven clean sheets in eight matches, with the champions conceding just one goal throughout the tournament. He also set a World Cup record by playing 650 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal.Teenager Pau Cobarci completed Spain’s awards sweep by winning the FIFA Young Player of the Year award.
The 19-year-old defender has emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest stars thanks to a series of quiet performances at the heart of Spain’s defence, playing a crucial role in the team’s record defensive season.Mbappe wins the Golden Boot despite France’s exit from the semi-finalsFrance captain Kylian Mbappe once again finished as the tournament’s top scorer, earning the Golden Boot after scoring 10 goals in eight matches.Although France failed to reach a third successive World Cup final, Mbappe’s impressive campaign made him the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot in two successive editions. He also increased his record as the top scorer in the history of the Men’s World Cup with 22 goals in his career.Meanwhile, the Netherlands were awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award in recognition of their exemplary discipline and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.
Full list of 2026 World Cup award winners
- Golden Ball: Rodri (Spain)
- Silver Ball: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- Bronze Ball: Kylian Mbappe (France)
- Golden Shoe: Kylian Mbappe (France)
- Silver Shoe: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- Bronze Boot: Jude Bellingham (England)
- Golden Glove: Unai Simon (Spain)
- FIFA Young Player of the Year Award: Pau Cobarci (Spain)
- FIFA Fair Play Award: Netherlands
Spain crowned an unforgettable tournament by defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final, with substitute Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute. The victory secured a second World Cup title for Spain and completed an almost perfect campaign, with La Roja conceding only one goal in eight matches while dominating the individual and team titles.