Rodri named player of World Cup, Simon and Cubarsi honoured

New Jersey [US], July 21: Spain midfielder Rodri was awarded the Golden Ball as the World Cup's best player after their 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina in the final on Sunday.
The Manchester City man, who struggled for league form last season after a cruciate knee ligament injury in September 2024, has sat doggedly in front of the back four and started attacks with his metronomic rhythm.
Record-breaking Spain conceded just one goal all tournament and young centre back Pau Cubarsí outshone Barcelona team mate Lamine Yamal, also now 19, to win the young player award.
Unai Simon was named goalkeeper of the World Cup after conceding only against Belgium in the 2-1 quarter-final win. The Spaniard's clean sheet lasted a record 649 World Cup minutes spread over two tournaments.
Mbappe beats Messi to all-time scoring record and Golden Boot
Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday saw Lionel Messi leave the tournament in North America empty-handed.
The Argentina superstar, who probably played his last World Cup, was beaten by France's Kylian Mbappe in the all-time tournament scoring list and the Golden Boot for most goals in this edition.
Messi became the player with most World Cup goals when he scored in the group stage match against Austria on June 22.
He bettered his overall tally to 21 goals, but Mbappe followed suit and claimed the record by scoring his 22nd goal in the 6-4 defeat to England in the match for third place.
Mbappe scored 10 goals in the 2026 World Cup, two more than Messi, and will therefore also go back home with the Golden Boot award.
"I would have preferred not to be the top scorer in history and play the match tomorrow. So I think it's good for everything related to legacy and when we stop saying that I was one of those players, but today that's not the first thing on my mind," the France star said after the defeat to England.
Source: Qatar Tribune