World Cup winners Spain also dominated the tournament’s individual awards, with Rodri, Pau Cubarsi and Unai Simon recognised following Sunday’s final win over Argentina.
La Roja followed up their Euro 2024 success by becoming world champions for the second time, with Ferran Torres scoring in extra time as they defeated the holders 1-0.
They are just the fourth team to win the Euros and the World Cup back-to-back, after West Germany (Euro 1972 and 1974 World Cup), France (1998 World Cup and Euro 2000) and Spain themselves (Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012).
Going into the semi-finals, Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, France forward Kylian Mbappe and England talisman Jude Bellingham were the favourites for the Golden Ball.
But after Spain’s victory, Rodri added that award to his collection, having already been named Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024 and winning the Ballon d’Or that same year.
#FIFAWorldCup Player of the Tournament pic.twitter.com/i67sBoeK7V
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 19, 2026
Rodri’s 756 successful passes at this World Cup were the most of any player at the tournament (ahead of Cubarsi on 671), while he also led the way for tackles attempted (23) and won (18) and ranked fourth for successful duels (49).
Cubarsi was recognised as the best young player at the tournament, having led all players in the final for touches (139), successful passes (121), passing accuracy (96%), line-breaking passes (21) and clearances (six).
There are only three instances on record (since 1966) of a player completing 100+ passes in a World Cup final. Cubarsi and Rodri (101) are two of those, with Dunga the other, in Brazil’s win over Italy in 1994 (130).
Cubarsi was one of two teenagers to start the showpiece match, alongside Lamine Yamal, as Spain became the first team to ever start multiple teenagers in a World Cup final.
1 – 19-year-old Pau Cubarsí led all players in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final for:
Touches (139)
Passes successful (121)
Passing accuracy (96%)
Line-breaking passes (21)
Clearances (6)Unfazed. pic.twitter.com/C7oMgwIcgo
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 19, 2026
The 19-year-old was part of a rock-solid defence in front of Simon, who took the Golden Glove.
Simon was only required to make 10 saves throughout Spain’s eight matches at the tournament – one fewer than Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez made in the final (11).
In addition, La Roja allowed their opponents just 2.4 expected goals (xG) across the entire tournament, an average of only 0.3 xG per game – both are the best figures ever recorded by any team at a World Cup.
The only non-Spain player to land an individual prize was Kylian Mbappe, whose brace versus England in Saturday’s third-place play-off – a match France lost 6-4 – saw him finish on 10 goals, two clear of Messi in the Golden Boot race.
Only Just Fontaine, who hit 13 for France in 1958, and Hungary’s Sandor Kocsis with 11 in 1954, have scored more goals at a single edition of the World Cup.
The Real Madrid man also became the first player to reach double figures at a single tournament since West Germany’s Gerd Muller struck 10 times in 1970.
Mbappe is the first player to be the leading goalscorer at two different World Cups, having also taken the prize when France were runners-up in 2022, while his total of 22 goals at the competition mean he holds the all-time record, also one clear of Messi.
