Spain didn’t just win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They owned the entire tournament from start to finish — and the individual awards ceremony after the final made that unmistakably clear.
Three of the biggest individual honours went to Spanish players, Kylian Mbappe claimed the Golden Boot for the second consecutive World Cup, and Lionel Messi walked away with the Silver Ball and Silver Boot at the age of 39 — a reminder that even in defeat, the greatest player of his generation remains in a category of his own.
Here is the full breakdown of every major award from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Golden Ball — Rodri (Spain)
The best player of the tournament was the engine at the heart of Spain’s midfield throughout the entire campaign.
Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder, controlled the tempo of nearly every game Spain played. He dictated when Spain sped up and when they slowed down, protected the defence brilliantly, and won the ball back consistently in areas of the pitch that don’t show up on the scoresheet but matter enormously to how a team functions.
Spain went through the entire tournament unbeaten, conceding just one goal in eight matches. A significant part of that defensive solidity came from the work Rodri did in front of the back four. His Golden Ball is one of the least controversial individual awards in recent World Cup memory — he was the standout midfielder of the tournament by a clear distance.
Lionel Messi was named Silver Ball winner, and Kylian Mbappe took Bronze.
Golden Boot — Kylian Mbappe (France)
Ten goals. Eight games. One extraordinary individual campaign.
Kylian Mbappe finished as the tournament’s leading scorer despite France being eliminated in the semi-finals, and his Golden Boot arrives with a piece of history attached — he is now the first player in history to win the World Cup Golden Boot in back-to-back editions, having also claimed the award at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Mbappe also extended his record as the highest goalscorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history, with 22 career tournament goals across his appearances at the event. For all the disappointment of France’s exit, his individual campaign was simply staggering.
The top scorers of the tournament make for an impressive list:
Kylian Mbappe — 10 goals Lionel Messi — 8 goals Jude Bellingham — 7 goals Erling Haaland — 7 goals Harry Kane — 6 goals Ousmane Dembele — 6 goals
Messi was named Silver Boot winner, with England’s Jude Bellingham taking Bronze.
Golden Glove — Unai Simon (Spain)
If Rodri was the heartbeat of Spain’s midfield, Unai Simon was the last line of defence — and what a defensive record he kept.
Spain conceded just one goal in eight matches across the entire tournament. Simon kept seven clean sheets and set a World Cup record by going 650 consecutive minutes without conceding a single goal. That’s the kind of number that defines an entire tournament performance rather than just one good game.
His Golden Glove is the third major individual award heading to Spain, and it reflects just how complete a team performance La Roja produced from back to front.
Best Young Player — Pau Cubarsi (Spain)
Spain’s fourth individual award of the night went to 19-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi, who was one of the genuine revelations of the tournament.
Playing at the heart of Spain’s defence at 19 years old, Cubarsi was composed, commanding, and completely unfazed by the scale of the occasion at every stage of the competition. His performances directly contributed to Spain’s remarkable defensive record, and the Best Young Player award is a fitting recognition of a talent that has just announced itself to the world in the biggest possible way.
He becomes the fourth teenager in history to win the award.
FIFA Fair Play Trophy — The Netherlands
The Netherlands, who were eliminated in the Round of 32, were recognised for their exemplary discipline and sportsmanship throughout the competition with the FIFA Fair Play Trophy.
Full List of FIFA World Cup 2026 Award Winners
Golden Ball: Rodri (Spain)
Silver Ball: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Bronze Ball: Kylian Mbappe (France)
Golden Boot: Kylian Mbappe (France) — 10 goals
Silver Boot: Lionel Messi (Argentina) — 8 goals
Bronze Boot: Jude Bellingham (England) — 7 goals
Golden Glove: Unai Simón (Spain)
Best Young Player: Pau Cubarsi (Spain)
FIFA Fair Play Trophy: The Netherlands
Related Article: FIFA World Cup 2026 Winner: Spain Beat Argentina
A Tournament That Belonged to Spain
Spain went eight matches unbeaten. They conceded one goal. They beat Argentina in the final. They won the Golden Ball, Golden Glove, and Best Young Player award. Their captain lifted the trophy. Their goalkeeper set a World Cup record. Their teenage defender was the best young player in the tournament.
It is hard to imagine a more complete team performance at a World Cup in the modern era. Spain have been the best team in the world for the past two years — European champions, and now World champions — and the 2026 tournament was their definitive statement.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is over. Spain is champions. And every individual award tells the same story.