The adidas Golden Ball is the FIFA World Cup award for the best player of the tournament. In 2026, Spain midfielder Rodri won it after leading La Roja to a 1–0 extra-time win over Argentina in the final. Lionel Messi took the Silver Ball and Kylian Mbappé the Bronze Ball.
Below is the complete list of Golden Ball winners from 1978 to 2026, following FIFA’s official record. It also covers the Silver and Bronze Ball winners, the key records, and how the award differs from the Golden Boot and Golden Glove.
Who Won the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball?
Rodri (Spain) won the 2026 adidas Golden Ball. FIFA’s official 2026 award list reads:
- Golden Ball: Rodri (Spain)
- Silver Ball: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- Bronze Ball: Kylian Mbappé (France)
Rodri played in all eight of Spain’s matches as the team won its second world title. He is the first Spanish player to win the Golden Ball.
Full List of World Cup Golden Ball Winners (1978–2026)
| Year | Host | Golden Ball | Silver Ball | Bronze Ball |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Argentina | Mario Kempes (Argentina) | Paolo Rossi (Italy) | Dirceu (Brazil) |
| 1982 | Spain | Paolo Rossi (Italy) | Falcão (Brazil) | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany) |
| 1986 | Mexico | Diego Maradona (Argentina) | Toni Schumacher (West Germany) | Preben Elkjær (Denmark) |
| 1990 | Italy | Salvatore Schillaci (Italy) | Lothar Matthäus (West Germany) | Diego Maradona (Argentina) |
| 1994 | USA | Romário (Brazil) | Roberto Baggio (Italy) | Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria) |
| 1998 | France | Ronaldo (Brazil) | Davor Šuker (Croatia) | Lilian Thuram (France) |
| 2002 | Korea/Japan | Oliver Kahn (Germany) | Ronaldo (Brazil) | Hong Myung-bo (South Korea) |
| 2006 | Germany | Zinedine Zidane (France) | Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) | Andrea Pirlo (Italy) |
| 2010 | South Africa | Diego Forlán (Uruguay) | Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands) | David Villa (Spain) |
| 2014 | Brazil | Lionel Messi (Argentina) | Thomas Müller (Germany) | Arjen Robben (Netherlands) |
| 2018 | Russia | Luka Modrić (Croatia) | Eden Hazard (Belgium) | Antoine Griezmann (France) |
| 2022 | Qatar | Lionel Messi (Argentina) | Kylian Mbappé (France) | Luka Modrić (Croatia) |
| 2026 | Canada/Mexico/USA | Rodri (Spain) | Lionel Messi (Argentina) | Kylian Mbappé (France) |
Source: FIFA’s official list of Golden Ball winners and FIFA’s 2026 award announcement.
What Is the Golden Ball and How Is It Decided?
What FIFA confirms
FIFA states that the adidas Golden Ball is presented to the best player at each FIFA World Cup finals. The players who finish second and third in the vote receive the adidas Silver Ball and Bronze Ball as the tournament’s second and third most outstanding players.
Many media reports describe a shortlist prepared by FIFA’s Technical Study Group, followed by a vote. FIFA’s men’s World Cup award pages do not spell out the full voting procedure, so the exact process may vary between tournaments.
Why 1978 is included
FIFA’s official list begins in 1978, with Mario Kempes as the first winner. FIFA states that the Golden, Silver and Bronze Balls were first awarded at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. Kempes scored six goals as Argentina won its first world title. Some other sources start the list in 1982, when the sponsored award became widely known. This article follows FIFA’s record.
Golden Ball Records and Statistics
Lionel Messi: the only two-time winner
Lionel Messi is the only player to win the Golden Ball twice, in 2014 and 2022. With the 2026 Silver Ball, he has three Ball awards in total.
Players with two Ball awards
- Diego Maradona: Golden Ball 1986, Bronze Ball 1990
- Ronaldo: Golden Ball 1998, Silver Ball 2002
- Luka Modrić: Golden Ball 2018, Bronze Ball 2022
- Kylian Mbappé: Silver Ball 2022, Bronze Ball 2026
Paolo Rossi won the Silver Ball in 1978 and the Golden Ball in 1982.
The only goalkeeper to win it
Germany’s Oliver Kahn, in 2002, is the only goalkeeper to win the Golden Ball. Toni Schumacher, also a goalkeeper, won the Silver Ball in 1986.
Winners whose team did not win the World Cup
The best player does not always lift the trophy. Golden Ball winners whose teams did not become champions:
- Salvatore Schillaci, Italy (1990)
- Ronaldo, Brazil (1998)
- Oliver Kahn, Germany (2002)
- Zinedine Zidane, France (2006)
- Diego Forlán, Uruguay (2010)
- Lionel Messi, Argentina (2014)
- Luka Modrić, Croatia (2018)
In 1978, 1982, 1986, 1994, 2022 and 2026, the Golden Ball winner’s team also won the World Cup. See the full list of World Cup champions.
Golden Ball Winners by Country
| Country | Golden Balls | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 4 | Kempes 1978, Maradona 1986, Messi 2014, Messi 2022 |
| Italy | 2 | Rossi 1982, Schillaci 1990 |
| Brazil | 2 | Romário 1994, Ronaldo 1998 |
| Germany | 1 | Kahn 2002 |
| France | 1 | Zidane 2006 |
| Uruguay | 1 | Forlán 2010 |
| Croatia | 1 | Modrić 2018 |
| Spain | 1 | Rodri 2026 |
Golden Ball vs Golden Boot vs Golden Glove
| Award | Given to | Based on | 2026 winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Ball | Best player of the tournament | A vote; second and third receive Silver and Bronze Ball | Rodri (Spain) |
| Golden Boot | Top goalscorer | Goals scored, with tie-breakers when players are level | Kylian Mbappé (France), 10 goals |
| Golden Glove | Best goalkeeper | Goalkeeping performance across the tournament | Unai Simón (Spain) |
The Golden Ball rewards overall performance. The Golden Boot is decided mainly by goals: Lionel Messi (8 goals) won the 2026 Silver Boot and Jude Bellingham (7) the Bronze Boot. For every top scorer since 1930, see our World Cup Golden Boot winners guide and the all-time World Cup top scorers.
Best-Player Selections Before 1978
Before 1978, there was no official FIFA Golden Ball. Newspapers, magazines and historians have named “best players” for earlier tournaments, but these selections are unofficial. They are not part of FIFA’s Golden Ball record, so they are not included in the list above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Golden Ball at the 2026 World Cup?
Rodri of Spain. Lionel Messi won the Silver Ball and Kylian Mbappé the Bronze Ball.
Who has won the most Golden Balls?
Lionel Messi, with two (2014 and 2022). No other player has won it more than once.
Who was the first Golden Ball winner?
According to FIFA’s official record, Mario Kempes of Argentina at the 1978 World Cup.
Has a goalkeeper ever won the Golden Ball?
Yes. Oliver Kahn of Germany won it in 2002, the only goalkeeper to do so.
Which country has the most Golden Ball winners?
Argentina, with four: Kempes (1978), Maradona (1986) and Messi (2014, 2022).
Is the Golden Ball the same as the Golden Boot?
No. The Golden Ball goes to the best overall player, while the Golden Boot goes to the top goalscorer. In 2026, Rodri won the Golden Ball and Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot.
Read more about how Spain won the tournament in our 2026 World Cup winner article, and the details of the 2026 World Cup final.
