As well as lifting the trophy, ‘La Roja’ dominated the post-tournament awards, with Rodri named the competition’s best player and Unai Simon claiming the Golden Glove.
Spain did not just secure the 2026 World Cup trophy; they asserted their technical dominance by sweeping FIFA’s individual accolades. Following a flawless campaign, the sheer depth of talent within the squad ensured “La Roja” were the undeniable stars of the closing ceremony.
Leading the roll of honour, Rodri was awarded the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball. The midfield maestro edged out heavyweights such as Leo Messi and Kylian Mbappe, both of whom had been tipped as frontrunners for the tournament’s most prestigious individual prize.
The Manchester City linchpin, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2024 and was named Player of the Tournament at that year’s European Championship, showed remarkable grit to return from a major knee injury and produce a defining World Cup display.
Joining him in the limelight on the pitch at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, goalkeeper Unai Simon collected the Golden Glove. The Athletic Club shot-stopper conceded just one goal throughout the entire finals. Before finally being beaten in the quarter-final against Belgium, he had racked up a staggering 650 minutes without conceding. This run, which factored in a 0-0 draw against Morocco in 2022, established a new all-time record for the longest clean-sheet streak in World Cup history.
Spain’s rejuvenation was also recognised as Pau Cubarsi was named the Best Young Player of the 2026 World Cup. Alongside Aymeric Laporte, the Barcelona defender anchored the most solid backline in the competition. At just 19 years of age, he follows in the footsteps of legends such as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Michael Owen, and, more recently, Kylian Mbappe.
The only major award to elude the Spanish was the Golden Boot, which went to Kylian Mbappe. The France talisman, whose tournament ended on Saturday following a third-place play-off defeat to England, netted a brace to finish as the 2026 World Cup’s outright top scorer. In doing so, the forward overtook Leo Messi to become the most prolific goalscorer in the history of the World Cup.
