FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: List of all winners from 1930 to 2026
(Courtesy : Getty)
The FIFA World Cup Golden Ball is handed to the best player at the tournament
Several awards are handed out at the end of every FIFA World Cup edition, alongside the prestigious trophy presented to the winning side. The FIFA World Cup Golden Ball is handed to the best player of that edition. While the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot is presented to the top scorer at the tournament. The Golden Glove Award is presented to the best goalkeeper at the tournament. The Best Young Player award is handed to the best U-21 player at the tournament. FIFA Fair Play Trophy, Goal of the Tournament and Most Entertaining Team awards are also handed out.
The best player of the tournament award has been handed out since the first edition of the World Cup. But the award was renamed and rebranded as the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball. It was first awarded in 1982. It is currently called the ‘Adidas Golden Ball’. Here is the list of all the World Cup Golden Ball winners.
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winners
- 1930 – José Nasazzi (Uruguay)
- 1934 – Giuseppe Meazza (Italy)
- 1938 – Leonidas da Silva (Brazil)
- 1950 – Zizinho (Brazil)
- 1954 – Ferenc Puskas (Hungary)
- 1958 – Didí (Brazil)
- 1962 – Garrincha (Brazil)
- 1966 – Bobby Charlton (England)
- 1970 – Pelé (Brazil)
- 1974 – Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
- 1982 – Paolo Rossi (Italy)
- 1986 – Diego Maradona (Argentina)
- 1990 – Salvatore Schillaci (Italy)
- 1994 – Romário (Brazil)
- 1998 – Ronaldo (Brazil)
- 2002 – Oliver Kahn (Germany)
- 2006 – Zinedine Zidane (France)
- 2010 – Diego Forlán (Uruguay)
- 2014 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- 2018 – Luka Modrić (Croatia)
- 2022 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- 2026 – Rodri (Spain)
**This article was last updated on July 19, 2026.
Who won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball in 2026?
Spain’s Rodri won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball in 2026.
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