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As the 2026 FIFA World Cup reaches its climax, the battle for the trophy is not the only contest capturing attention. Several prestigious individual and team awards will also be decided following the final.
FIFA presents six major awards at the end of every World Cup to recognise outstanding performances by players and teams. They are the Golden Boot, Golden Ball, Golden Glove, Young Player Award, Fair Play Award, and Goal of the Tournament.
The biggest spotlight is on the race for the Golden Boot, which is awarded to the tournament’s top scorer. The award goes to the player with the most goals. If two or more players finish level, the winner is decided first by the number of assists and then, if necessary, by who achieved the tally in the fewest minutes on the pitch.
France captain Kylian Mbappe, who won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with eight goals, is once again among the favourites.
Mbappe and Argentina captain Lionel Messi are currently tied at the top of the scoring chart with eight goals and three assists each, setting up a thrilling race that could be decided in the World Cup final.
England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham remain outside contenders with six goals and one assist each, while France winger Ousmane Dembele has six goals and two assists. Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal has scored five goals and provided one assist.
The Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament’s best player, and the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper are also expected to feature some of the biggest stars of the competition.
The Young Player Award will recognise the tournament’s best performer under the age of 21, while the Fair Play Award honours the team with the best disciplinary record. FIFA will also present the Goal of the Tournament award for the competition’s most memorable strike.
With the World Cup final set to crown a new champion, the race for these individual honours promises to add another layer of excitement to football’s biggest stage.
