AFCON 2025
Not only did Spain win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but they also dominated the individual honors. Manchester City midfielder Rodri walked away with the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, Unai Simón claimed the Golden Glove, and teenager Pau Cubarsí took home the Best Young Player award, giving La Roja a clean sweep of three of the four major individual prizes after their extra-time win over Argentina in the final at the MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey on Sunday afternoon.
Rodri anchored Spain’s midfield throughout the tournament, controlling tempo, dictating play and shielding a backline that conceded just once in eight matches, a record no World Cup-winning side has ever matched. Lionel Messi finished as runner-up for the Golden Ball, coming agonizingly close to a fairytale ending at 39, while Kylian Mbappé rounded out the podium in third.
Kylian Mbappé did leave New Jersey with silverware of his own. The Real Madrid forward claimed the Golden Boot for the second straight World Cup after scoring 10 goals and adding four assists for France. Messi finished as the tournament’s second-highest scorer with eight goals, still coming up short of Mbappé despite Argentina’s run to the final. Mbappe also reached a landmark achievement as he is now the leading scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals.
The wider scoring charts featured Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland with seven goals apiece, and Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembélé with six each, closing out a tournament that crowned Spain both world champions and the tournament’s dominant individual force.
Unai Simón was the standout figure between the posts, keeping seven clean sheets in eight games and conceding only once in the tournament, a goal against Belgium, while posting a save percentage of 90.9. His performances underpinned Spain’s stingiest defensive campaign in World Cup history.
Barcelona’s young defender Pau Cubarsí, just 19, capped a breakout year by winning Best Young Player, joining a list of past winners that includes Mbappé, Thomas Müller, and Enzo Fernández. The Barcelona defender was an epitome of composure and solidity at the back throughout Spain’s run to their second title.
The Netherlands, ousted by Morocco in the round of 32, picked up the tournament’s Fair Play award.
