Spain captain Rodri was named the best player of the 2026 World Cup after leading his side to a second world title, while France striker Kylian Mbappé became the first player to win the Golden Boot twice.
Rodri received the Golden Ball following Spain’s victory over Argentina in Sunday’s final, capping a remarkable comeback after returning earlier this year from an eight-month absence caused by knee surgery. The Manchester City midfielder was central to Spain’s possession-based style, completing a tournament-leading 753 passes with a 94% success rate.
" For me, it’s been a very tough time. I just want the new generation to see my example as an opportunity that if you go down, you can rise again, " Rodri said.
" This is my philosophy my entire life. Of course, sometimes things go well, things go wrong. But always the positive. "
Speaking on the eve of the final, Rodri also addressed questions over his fitness after his lengthy spell on the sidelines.
" I heard that at the beginning of the tournament I wasn’t able to play, now that I recovered my shape. I tried not to listen too much, " he said. " I’ve always been confident in myself. "
Spain swept the tournament’s individual honors, with goalkeeper Unai Simón winning the Golden Glove after keeping seven clean sheets and conceding only one goal in eight matches. Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí was named Best Young Player ahead of teammate Lamine Yamal.
Read also : Spain defeat 10-man Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win second World Cup title
Mbappé, meanwhile, retained the Golden Boot after finishing as the tournament’s leading scorer with 10 goals and four assists in eight appearances. The France forward moved ahead of Argentina captain Lionel Messi in the race for the award after scoring twice and providing an assist in France’s 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff.
The 27-year-old became the first player to win the Golden Boot at consecutive World Cups after claiming the prize in Qatar in 2022. He also became the first player to score 10 goals in a single tournament since Germany’s Gerd Müller in 1970.
Mbappé’s tally of 22 World Cup goals also made him the competition’s all-time leading scorer, one ahead of Messi.
“When you score that many goals in the World Cup, it certainly takes you to a whole new level,” Mbappé said after France’s final match of the tournament.
“But I would have preferred not to be the top scorer and to have played in the final. It’s good for my legacy once I’ve retired, but right now, that’s not what’s on my mind. ”
Messi, who had hoped to become the first player to win three Golden Balls, received the Silver Ball, while Mbappé completed the podium with the Bronze Ball after France finished fourth.
