Mbappé, Rodri gets World Cup individual awards

Kylian Mbappé further strengthened his legacy at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by becoming the competition's all-time leading scorer. 

Having already entered the tournament with an outstanding World Cup record, the French forward reached another historic milestone by scoring 10 goals during the tournament, bringing his overall World Cup tally to 22 goals—the highest in the competition's history.

The achievement also earned Mbappé his second Golden Boot, an extraordinary accomplishment for a player who is still only 27 years old. His remarkable consistency across multiple World Cup campaigns has cemented his place among football's greatest international performers.

Unai Simón Justifies Spain's Goalkeeping Decision

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente's decision to retain Unai Simón as his first-choice goalkeeper was questioned before the tournament, particularly after impressive domestic campaigns by David Raya at Arsenal and Joan García at Barcelona.

However, Simón responded with a tournament of exceptional quality. Across eight matches, he recorded seven clean sheets—including shutouts in both the semifinal and final—while conceding just a single goal throughout the competition.

His performances proved decisive in Spain's title-winning campaign and earned him the Golden Glove as the tournament's best goalkeeper, fully vindicating the coaching staff's faith in him.

Pau Cubarsí Emerges as the Tournament's Best Young Player

Much of the pre-tournament attention surrounding Spain's youthful talent focused on Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, who was widely expected to contend for the Best Young Player award.

Instead, the honor went to his Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsí. The teenage central defender displayed remarkable composure, maturity, and defensive intelligence throughout the tournament, playing a key role in Spain's record-setting defensive campaign.

His performances consistently reflected experience well beyond his years, making him one of the breakout stars of the World Cup.

Rodri Crowned Tournament's Best Player

Rodri added another prestigious achievement to an already distinguished career by receiving the Golden Ball as the outstanding player of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Already the winner of the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA European Championship, the Premier League, and the Ballon d'Or, the Spanish midfielder now adds a World Cup winners' medal and the tournament's highest individual honor to his collection.

Serving as the heartbeat of Spain's midfield, Rodri dictated the tempo of matches with his composure, intelligence, and control in possession. His influence was central to Spain's unbeaten march to the title.

The award also marked a successful return following his recovery from a serious knee injury, confirming that the 30-year-old has regained the elite form that has defined his career.