Di World Cup no be only about di main trophy wey every player dey dream to lift. Since 1982, players don dey compete for individual awards like Golden Ball and Golden Boot. Di Golden Ball go to di best player, while Golden Boot na for di top scorer. Di Golden Glove for best goalkeeper start for 1994, wey dem first call am Lev Yashin Award before dem rename am for 2010.
For 2026 World Cup wey go hold for Canada, Mexico and United States, Adidas don unveil new designs for di three main individual awards. Di Golden Ball trophy now take shape from di Adidas Trionda match ball wey dem go use for di tournament. Di Golden Boot and Golden Glove also get fresh look.
Lionel Messi be di reigning Golden Ball winner from Qatar 2022, where e captain Argentina to victory. Di 38-year-old fit defend im title for 2026, but e go face strong competition from France Kylian Mbappé, wey finish second for 2022. Oda contenders include Spain Lamine Yamal, England Harry Kane, France Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise, plus Portugal duo Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes.
For Golden Boot, Mbappé win am for 2022 with eight goals, one more than Messi. Previous winners include Kane for 2018, James Rodríguez for 2014, Thomas Müller for 2010, Ronaldo Nazário for 2002, and Miroslav Klose for 2006. Kane, wey score 61 goals for 51 games for Bayern Munich last season, get good chance to repeat im 2018 success. But e go compete with Mbappé, Olise, Dembélé, Norway Erling Haaland, Brazil Vinícius Júnior, and Yamal. No forget seasoned players like Messi and Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo, but only one player aged 30 or over don ever win Golden Boot: Croatia Davor Suker for 1998 at age 30.
Golden Glove go to goalkeeper wey distinguish himself most. First winner na Spain Iker Casillas for 2010. Argentina Emiliano Martínez win am for 2022, wey keep three clean sheets and make vital saves including di famous stop against France Randal Kolo Muani for extra time. Martinez fit retain im title for 2026, but plenty oda goalkeepers dey ready to challenge am: Spain David Raya, England Jordan Pickford, Brazil Alisson, Spain Unai Simón, Portugal Diogo Costa. Plus Germany don recall 40-year-old Manuel Neuer, di 2014 Golden Glove winner, for one last campaign.
