FIFA World Cup 2026: Top Contenders for Individual Awards

New York. As the World Cup nears its conclusion, two teams are competing to lift the coveted trophy. The competition for various individual and special awards, along with the championship, is equally exciting.

FIFA will present various individual and special awards after the final based on individual talent, memorable performances, and team discipline shown throughout the competition. Although players from the teams reaching the final have a higher chance, the selection process for some awards is completed before the final begins.

This year, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are considered the strongest contenders to win at least one individual award.

The main awards presented by FIFA are as follows:

• Golden Boot
• Golden Ball
• Golden Glove
• Best Young Player
• Fair Play Award
• Best Goal of the Tournament

How is the Golden Boot determined?

The Golden Boot is awarded to the player who scores the most goals in the tournament. In the 2022 Qatar World Cup, France's Kylian Mbappé won this award with eight goals. If two players have the same number of goals, the player with more assists wins. If both goals and assists are equal, the player who achieved the feat in fewer minutes wins the award.The main contenders for the Golden Boot in this World Cup:

So far, there is a tough competition between Messi and Mbappé. Both have scored eight goals and provided three assists each.

Top scorers currently:

• Kylian Mbappé (France) – 8 goals, 3 assists
• Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 8 goals, 3 assists
• Harry Kane (England) – 6 goals, 1 assist
• Jude Bellingham (England) – 6 goals, 1 assist
• Ousmane Dembélé (France) – 6 goals, 2 assists
• Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) – 5 goals, 1 assist

Who is the main contender for the Golden Ball?

• Previous winner: Lionel Messi (Argentina)

The Golden Ball is a prestigious award presented to the best player of the tournament. FIFA's technical study group prepares a list of candidates, and accredited journalists covering the World Cup vote to select the winner. The second and third-place players receive the 'Silver Ball' and 'Bronze Ball' respectively. This award has been presented since 1978.

Notably, many times this award has been won by players from teams that did not win the World Cup. For example – Zinedine Zidane (2006), Lionel Messi (2014 and 2022), Luka Modrić (2018). The main reason for this is that the voting is completed before the final.

Among goalkeepers, Germany's Oliver Kahn (2002) is the only player to have won this award. Messi is the only player to have won the Golden Ball twice.

Main contenders this year:

• Lionel Messi (Argentina)
• Kylian Mbappé (France)
• Michael Olise (France)
• Harry Kane (England)
• Jude Bellingham (England)
• Erling Haaland (Norway)
• Vojtěch Vojtěch (Cape Verde)

Who can win the Golden Glove?

• Previous winner: Emiliano Martínez (Argentina)

The 'Golden Glove' is awarded to the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Key criteria include player impact, outstanding saves, and the number of clean sheets. This award, started in 1994, was called the 'Lev Yashin Award' until 2010. In the last five editions, the goalkeeper of the winning team has won this award four times.

Goalkeepers who performed excellently in this World Cup:

• Vojtěch Vojtěch (Cape Verde)
• Órlando Gill (Uruguay)
• Diogo Costa (Portugal)
• Gregor Kobel (Switzerland)
• Yassine Bono (Morocco)
• Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt)

Vojtěch Vojtěch's performance, in particular, has brought him global attention, and there is talk that Inter Miami might sign him.

Contenders for Best Young Player

This award, presented since 2006, is given to the best player under 21 years of age. In 2022, Argentina's Enzo Fernández won this award.

Main contenders this year:

• Lamine Yamal (Spain)
• Pau Cubarsí (Spain)
• Gilberto Mora (Mexico)
• Désiré Doué (France)
• Nico O'Riley (England)
• Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco)

Mexico's Gilberto Mora is the youngest player in this World Cup. He also became the youngest player to get a starting chance in a World Cup knockout match since 1958.

Who gets the Fair Play Award?

The 'Fair Play Award' is presented to the team showing excellent discipline and sportsmanship. This award has been presented since 1970. Brazil has won this award four times, while England and Spain have won it three times each. In 2022, England was the winner.

Main contenders this year:

• Spain
• France
• Norway

Whose goal is the best of the tournament?

The winner of the best goal of the tournament is determined by fan votes. In 2022, Brazil's Richarlison's spectacular bicycle kick goal against Serbia was the winner of this award.

This year, the best goals from the group stage to each round have been selected separately.

Candidates for the best goals in the final stage:

• Kylian Mbappé (France) – Against Morocco (Quarter-final)
• Andreas Schjelderup (Norway) – Against England (Quarter-final)
• Jude Bellingham (England) – Against Norway (Quarter-final)
• Julián Álvarez (Argentina) – Against Switzerland (Quarter-final)
• Pedro Porro (Spain) – Against France (Semi-final)
• Enzo Fernández (Argentina) – Against England (Semi-final)

The final winner of the best goal of the tournament will be selected from these six candidates through fan voting. FIFA has stated that voting will be completed before the final.