FIFA World Cup 2022: Golden Ball, Golden Boot, Golden Glove - complete list of all award winners

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Emi Martinez scooped the big prizes at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.


Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Emiliano Martinez collected the big individual prizes at FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.


Messi had won the Golden Ball in 2014 in Brazil where Argentina suffered heartbreak in the final, going down 1-0 in extra time to Germany.

But this time, the 35-year-old got his hands on the one trophy that had thus far eluded him throughout his spectacular career.

The individual awards at a World Cup are always so precious.

Although, team success is the ultimate goal, those who get their hands on the big prizes at major tournament often also take home the trophy.

And that is exactly what has happened in Qatar.

Here are the recipients of the biggest individual awards at the World Cup.

Golden Ball — Lionel Messi



Who else?

The first player to score in each stage of a single World Cup and the third Argentine captain to lift the trophy.

If that was the last time we saw Lionel Messi on the international stage then it was the perfect ending. This was the final piece of silverware for him to win and, for the majority of the tournament, he carried his team to glory.

The 35-year-old scored seven goals and registered three assists and, after winning in the final, there was no way any other player could have been awarded the Golden Ball.

Kylian Mbappe tried his hardest to steal the limelight from his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate, and almost did, but the script seemed written for Messi to finally put the finishing touch his trophy cabinet.
The Golden Ball was first given after the 1982 World Cup and the Argentina captain is the first player to have won it twice, having also won it in 2014.

Mbappe was the recipient of the Silver Ball while Luka Modric won the Bronze Ball.

Golden Boot — Kylian Mbappe



Mbappe’s efforts in the final, and throughout the tournament, would have usually been enough to coast to triumph but Messi’s magic proved to be too much.

The Golden Boot provides a consolation for the young Frenchman but, understandably, he was less than impressed to be forced into posing with the trophy.

His hat-trick in the final — the first since 1966 — brought his 2022 World Cup tally to eight goals, one more than club team-mate Messi.

Mbappe now has 12 goals at World Cup finals, leaving him just four behind the all-time leading goalscorer Miroslav Klose. It feels like 2026, with its expanded format, will be the year that he smashes that record to pieces.

For now, the 23-year-old won’t be particularly excited by picking up one of football’s great individual accolades but a Golden Boot should never be sniffed at.

Golden Glove — Emiliano Martinez





While Messi will forever be the hero of the 2022 World Cup final, he has his goalkeeper to thank once again for winning trophies on the international stage.

Like he did in last year’s Copa America, Emiliano Martinez hammered home his authority as the best goalkeeper at a tournament and picked up the Golden Glove in Qatar.

He was the star of two penalty shootouts — including the biggest of them all — as Argentina got their hands on the trophy.

Martinez saved two spot kicks in the win against the Netherlands and kept out Kingsley Coman in the final. His efforts during the 120 minutes cannot be ignored either as he made a huge save to keep out, what would have been, a winning goal from Randal Kolo Muani at the death.

Had it not been for such a dominant performance in the final from the Aston Villa No 1, Dominik Livakovic might have been the recipient of the award. But there is little debate to be had after a final such as that one.

Young Player Award — Enzo Fernandez





There were so many players in the running for the Young Player Award but, for his performances in a World Cup-winning campaign, Enzo Fernandez stood out head and shoulders above his competitors.

The 21-year-old was only just young enough to be considered for the accolade as if Fernandez was born 17 days earlier he would have been eligible for the award.

He actually didn’t feature in Lionel Scaloni’s starting XI during the first couple of games but his influence off the bench against Mexico in the second game was more than enough to justify a midfield spot.

A brilliant goal to open his international account preceded terrific showings against Poland, Australia and the Netherlands.

While Scaloni tinkered with his midfield and defence, Fernandez was unmoved and he certainly repaid the faith that had been shown in him.

A magnificent performance throughout the 120 minutes against France followed one way beyond his years in the semi-final win against Croatia.

The likes of Jude Bellingham and Josko Gvardiol were in the debate right until the last two hours of the World Cup but, in the end, there was only one winner.

https://theathletic.com/4013965/2022/12/18/individual-awards-2022-world-cup/

When I first saw Kylian Mbappe as a Monaco player give Man City all sorts of troubles, I knew he would rule the world.

The scoring record at World Cup is 16, he already has 12 at age 24!

He will erase the record!

Wat I saw last night was Argentina vs Kylian Mbappe