Mbappe Wins Golden Boot Twice as Rodri Takes World Cup Golden Ball

The 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded with a spectacular individual awards ceremony at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where France's Kylian Mbappe claimed a historic second Golden Boot and Spain's midfield maestro Rodri was named the tournament's best player with the Golden Ball.

Mbappe's Historic Double

Mbappe, who had been in sizzling form throughout the tournament for France, finished as the competition's top scorer — cementing a landmark already seen as one of the great individual achievements in World Cup history. He previously won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and adding a second at the 2026 edition makes him the first player in history to claim the award twice.

The French captain's tally held firm even as Lionel Messi pushed hard throughout the competition for Argentina. Messi's attempt to close the gap was ultimately unsuccessful, with France's elimination in the third-place play-off — where Mbappe continued to add to his tally despite the loss — securing the Frenchman's record haul.

Rodri Claims Golden Ball

Spain's Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder who was a key architect of his side's World Cup triumph, took home the Golden Ball as the best player of the 2026 tournament. His influence in the engine room of Spain's midfield was central to the team's dominance throughout the competition, from the group stage all the way to Sunday night's 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the final.

Rodri's reading of the game, his ability to control tempo and win crucial possession, and his leadership on the pitch made him the standout individual in a star-studded Spanish squad. The award caps a remarkable period for the midfielder, who has now won the Champions League, a league title, and the World Cup with his club and country respectively.

Spain Complete Double With Both World Cups

Sunday's final result meant Spain become the first nation ever to hold both the men's and women's World Cup titles simultaneously, a feat celebrated wildly across the country. The 2026 World Cup marks Spain's second men's World Cup title, following their victory in South Africa in 2010.