The world of football has received answers to the main questions about who was the best of the season. FIFA officially announced the names of the holders of prestigious individual awards at the end of the 2026 World Cup. The tournament results exceeded all expectations: the Spanish national team, becoming world champions, demonstrated total dominance not only in the team standings but also in individual categories.
Rodri — the main hero of the World Cup
The most coveted award of the tournament — the "Golden Ball" for the best player — went to the captain of the Spanish national team, Rodri. The midfielder was recognized as the main architect of the team's success under the leadership of Luis de la Fuente. Throughout the tournament, Rodri demonstrated phenomenal stability, completely controlling the pace of the game in the center of the field and taking on leadership roles in the most critical moments.
Goalkeeper and Defender Records
The Spaniards also took the awards recognizing defensive reliability. The "Golden Glove" for the best goalkeeper went to Unai Simón. The goalkeeper set an absolute record in World Cup history by recording 7 "clean sheets" in a single tournament. Moreover, Simón distinguished himself with the longest streak of games without conceding a goal in the history of World Cups.
The award for the best young player was won by 19-year-old central defender Pau Cubarsí. The young footballer demonstrated maturity beyond his years, turning into a leader of the defensive line. Thanks to his actions, the Spanish defense set another historical World Cup record, conceding only one goal throughout the entire tournament.
Final Distribution of Awards
In general, representatives of the Spanish national team took three out of four major individual awards from FIFA. This became an unprecedented indicator of the team's effectiveness. It is worth noting separately that the Fair Play award for the tournament was received by the Netherlands national team.
