Which players are favourites to be FIFA World Cup 2026 award winners?
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup nears its conclusion, stars Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are leading contenders for individual awards like the Golden Boot and Golden Ball. FIFA's technical study group and media voters will determine the final recipients.
Why it matters
The World Cup is the most-watched sporting event globally, and individual awards are highly prestigious honors in professional football.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are among the biggest stars expected to walk away with at least one individual award.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Lionel Messi is in line to win two awards at the FIFA World Cup 2026 [Roberto Schmidt/AFP] By Anushe Engineer Published On 17 Jul 2026 17 Jul 2026 As the FIFA World Cup draws to a close, two nations are vying to lift the famous golden champions’ trophy, but several other player and team awards are also up for grabs.
Individual brilliance, iconic moments, and team discipline on the field are the key factors deciding the end-of-tournament honours handed out by FIFA at the end of the final.
The teams advancing the furthest and their players are leading contenders for the awards, but some are chosen before the final gets under way.
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