World Cup Awards: Messi and Mbappé's Final Showdown
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are set for a dramatic finale in the 2026 FIFA World Cup awards race. Messi, the Argentina captain, is the leading candidate to claim another Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, while Mbappé is the clear favorite for the Golden Boot with 10 goals. Mbappé’s 10-goal haul makes him the first player to reach double figures in a World Cup since Germany’s Gerd Müller scored 10 goals at the 1970 tournament.
The Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament’s best player, is likely to go to Messi, who has already won the award twice, in 2014 and 2022. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised Messi, saying, “He is the history. He is the legend.” Messi has won virtually every major honor in football, including a record eight Ballon d’Or awards, but has never finished a World Cup as its leading scorer.
The winners of the Golden Ball, Golden Glove, and Best Young Player awards are selected by members of the media from a shortlist prepared by FIFA‘s Technical Study Group. Spain’s Unai Simón and Yamine Lamal are strong contenders for the Golden Glove and Best Young Player awards, respectively. The outcome of the awards will be decided after the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has seen outstanding individual performances, and the awards will recognize the best players in the tournament. This is not the first time Messi and Mbappé have competed for individual honors, and their performances in the World Cup have been closely watched by fans and media alike.
