Rodri was crowned the best player of the summer. / Mandel NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

The battle beaten collectivism and individualism in soccer was perfectly captured by the 2026 World Cup final.

Spain`s team came up against an Argentina side spearheaded so clearly by Lionel Messi. "We will do everything to make sure Messi wins the World Cup again," his strike partner Julián Alvarez insisted ahead of time. "Every game is a battle for him."

In the clash between soloists and orchestras, the music ended with Spain on top. However, the plight of the individuals in soccer was won a long time ago. Singular accolades have been handed out to players at World Cups for the past 44 years.

Here are the stars that scooped this summer`s awards.

2026 World Cup: All Individual Award Winners

2026 World Cup Golden Ball Winner:

Always listen to Pep Guardiola. Back in October 2025, when Rodri was still struggling to make a fluent return from nearly a year out with an ACL injury, his Manchester City manager warned: "I said to him, and he maybe struggled to understand, it`s not about six, seven, eight months out, then playing and being the Rodri of before.

"No. Do you know when Rodri will be good? At the World Cup with Spain. At the World Cup he will be the best Rodri."

The best Rodri proved to be the best of any player as he was crowned the best player at the entire tournament. The fans who stayed behind at MetLife Stadium made their feelings known by chanting "Messi!" during his trophy presentation. The Argentine would have to settle for the Silver Ball.

Silver Ball Winner: Lionel Messi
Bronze Ball Winner: Kylian Mbappé

2026 World Cup Golden Boot Winner:

Top Scorers

A World Cup XI that could do some serious damage. / Sports Illustrated

Kylian Mbappé (France): 10 goals, 4 assists
Lionel Messi (Argentina): 8 goals, 4 assists
Jude Bellingham (England): 7 goals, 1 assist
Erling Haaland (Norway): 7 goals, 0 assists
Ousmane Dembélé (France): 6 goals, 2 assists
Harry Kane (England): 6 goals, 2 assists
Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain): 5 goals, 1 assist
Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal): 4 goals, 1 assist
Julián Quiñones (Mexico): 4 goals, 1 assist
Vinícius Júnior (Brazil): 4 goals, 1 assist

2026 World Cup Golden Glove Winner:

Unai Simón scooped the top prize for his position. / Carl Recine/Getty Images

Some jobs are easier than others. Unai Simón was crowned the best goalkeeper at the World Cup without having to make a single save throughout a desperately one-side final. Across the entire tournament, Spain`s imperious monopoly of possession had only allowed 11 shots on target throughout the entire tournament.

Nevertheless, to claim that Simón played the role of bystander while racking up a record-breaking seven clean sheets would be unfair. Few custodians are as aggressive when rushing off their line as Simón, who managed to keep the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and La Liga on the bench.

2026 World Cup Young Player Award Winner:

Pau Cubarsí was a worthy winner. / Alex Pantling/FIFA/Getty Images

Pau Cubarsí`s future is bright. The peerless teenager was Spain`s best 19-year-old at the World Cup, comfortably outshining Lamine Yamal and any other player at the tournament born on or after Jan. 1, 2005 to be crowned the best Young Player.

This soccer stuff may be going alright, but Cubarsí has a back-up plan: "If one day football doesn`t go so well, carpentry will always be there, that`s clear."

2026 World Cup Fair Play Trophy:

The Oranje are a frightful foe. / Jose Hernandez/Anadolu/Getty Images

This is the one everyone actually wants. Remarkably, this prize handed out to the team which made it past the first round with the best disciplinary record is older than every other individual accolade. Peru was the first team to get the diploma after avoiding a single card in 1970.

This year, the prize went to the Netherlands, who collected just three yellow cards. Unfortunately, they only won two games and got knocked out in the round of 32.

Goalkeeper:

Apps: 4
Minutes: 480
Clean Sheets: 2
Goals Conceded: 6

Orlando Gill`s World Cup started horribly and ended with a Kylian Mbappé handshake rejection, but everything in between was great.

After shipping four to an inspired USMNT on Matchday 1, Gill recorded back-to-back clean sheets to help Paraguay into the round-of-32, then achieved national hero status by denying Germany on penalties.

Gill saved Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade`s spot kicks in a crazy shootout, one decided by Jonathan Tah`s woeful attempt from 12 yards and José Canale`s successful effort in the aftermath. It was the first time Germany had lost a World Cup penalty shootout.

Paraguay`s campaign ended with a slender defeat to France in the last-16, but Gill ended the World Cup having made the most saves (23) and, as revealed by Opta, prevented the most goals (2.6).

Defenders:

Apps: 6
Minutes: 564
Goals: 2
Clean sheets: 5

Spanish supporters had wiped their hands with Pedro Porro after 45 minutes of Spain`s Euro 2024 qualifier with Scotland in March 2023. Porro, who`d signed for Tottenham Hotspur that January, was hooked at halftime after an abysmal showing.

The right back wasn`t involved at Euro 2024 and despite being part of a Spurs team that almost got relegated last season, Luis de la Fuente called Porro up for this summer`s tournament.

The majority expected Swiss Army knife Marcos Llorente to earn the starting job, and the Atlético Madrid man was in the lineup for Spain`s opening match against Cabo Verde. The subsequent stalemate forced a change of tack, and Porro was a fixture thereafter.

De la Fuente`s faith was vindicated in the knockouts, as Porro established an excellent relationship with Lamine Yamal and proved a valuable contributors in all phases. He scored his first two international goals in the round-of-32 and semifinals, earning Player of the Match honors for his stellar display in the impressive 2-0 victory over France.

Forwards:

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Otherworldly. / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Apps: 8
Minutes: 740
Goals: 8
Assists: 4

There wasn`t any Argentina hype pre-tournament because, well, few thought Lionel Messi was capable of repeating his heroics from the Gulf.

Scaloni`s roster has barely changed from Qatar, and it continues to serve its 39-year-old grandmaster. Argentina`s soccer team seemingly functions for the sole purpose of delivering Messi success, although his teammates did anything but carry him this summer.

Messi`s work four years ago was special, perhaps rivalling Diego Maradona`s campaign in 1986, but this tournament was arguably more impressive, given his age and the extent at which he dominated the holders` campaign.

He scored the majority of Argentina`s goals, and on the several occasions where it was staring elimination in the face, Messi flicked a switch, drifted wide right and wreaked havoc. There was no longer a debate to be had over his greatness after Qatar, he was merely rubbing it in this time around.

The 2026 World Cup Best XI

A World Cup XI that could do some serious damage. / Sports Illustrated