2026 World Cup Awards: Cubarsí Best Young Player, Mbappé Golden Boot as Spain Win

Spain are world champions after beating Argentina 1-0 in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament also marked a changing of the guard, with a new generation of players taking centre stage alongside the last appearances of the Messi and Ronaldo era.

Here are the official award winners and the young players who stood out.

2026 World Cup award winners

Golden Ball: Rodri (Spain), with Lionel Messi (Argentina) second and Kylian Mbappé (France) third.

Golden Boot: Kylian Mbappé (France) with 10 goals, ahead of Messi on 8 and Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland on 7 each.

Golden Glove: Unai Simón (Spain).

Best Young Player: Pau Cubarsí (Spain).

Pau Cubarsí: the best young player

Barcelona centre-back Pau Cubarsí was named the tournament's best young player and also made the team of the tournament. He played a central role in Spain's defence on the way to the trophy.

Jude Bellingham's breakthrough tournament

England midfielder Jude Bellingham scored seven goals, finishing joint third in the Golden Boot race and earning a place in the team of the tournament. His mix of goals, energy and leadership confirmed him as one of the best midfielders in the world.

Michael Olise makes his mark

France winger Michael Olise was also named in the team of the tournament after a strong campaign for Les Bleus.

A new era after Messi and Ronaldo

Messi still finished second for both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot, showing his quality at the end of his international career. But Spain's success, built on players like Rodri and Cubarsí, points to a future led by a new generation.

For young African players watching, including Kenya's next stars, the tournament showed the value of technical quality, tactical discipline and playing regularly at a high level.

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The tournament's best XI

According to NBC Sports, the official best XI was: Unai Simón; Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Michael Olise; Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.

Spain had five players in the team, reflecting how their success was built on a strong, balanced squad rather than one star.

Why Rodri won the Golden Ball

Rodri is not a goalscorer, which makes his Golden Ball unusual. Defensive midfielders rarely win individual awards, but his control of games, passing and ability to protect the defence were central to Spain's success. His award is a reminder that the best player is not always the one with the most goals.

Unai Simón's Golden Glove

Spain's goalkeeper played a key role in a team that won the final 1-0. Strong goalkeeping and organised defending are often what separate champions from the rest in knockout football.

Records and milestones

• Mbappé's 10 goals made him the first player since Gerd Müller in 1970 to reach double figures at a single World Cup.
• Mbappé also became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
• Messi finished second for both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot in what is expected to be his final World Cup.
• The 2026 tournament was the first with 48 teams, played across three host countries.

How this compares with 2022

In Qatar in 2022, Messi won the Golden Ball and Argentina won the trophy, with Mbappé winning the Golden Boot after his final hat-trick. Four years later, Mbappé kept the Golden Boot, but the team honours moved to Spain, a sign of how quickly the balance of power can change in international football.

Lessons for African football

African teams will want to learn from Spain's model: a clear playing style, strong youth development and young players trusted at the highest level. Cubarsí, still a teenager when he broke into Barcelona's first team, is an example of what happens when clubs and national teams give young talent real responsibility.

Frequently asked questions

Who won the 2026 World Cup?

Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, beating Argentina 1-0 in the final.

Who won the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot?

Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot with 10 goals.

Who was the best young player at the 2026 World Cup?

Spain defender Pau Cubarsí won the Best Young Player award.