Ferran Torres has etched his name in football folklore by making full use of an opportunity of a lifetime when, in the 106th minute of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, he found the back of the net to break
Argentine hearts as Spain became the champions for the second time in history. Torres’ lone strike proved to be the difference to send Spanish fans back home and elsewhere into delirium during a finale that was bossed by La Roja. With the pulsating event drawing to an epic conclusion, here’s a look at the final Golden Ball, Golden Boot and Golden Gloves standings.
GOLDEN BOOT
For his 10 goals, France’s Kylian Mbappe secured the Golden Boot award for the second year in a row. He was locked in a neck-and-neck battle with Lionel Messi for the top honours. His two goals in the third-place playoffs proved decisive with Messi not scoring in the final.
| Rank | Name | Country | Goals | Assists | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kylian Mbappe | France | 10 | 4 | 769 |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 8 | 4 | 853 |
| 3 | Jude Bellingham | England | 7 | 1 | 698 |
| 4 | Erling Haaland | Norway | 7 | 0 | 537 |
| 5 | Ousmane Dembele | France | 6 | 2 | 648 |
| 6 | Harry Kane | England | 6 | 1 | 732 |
| 7 | Mikel Oyarzabal | Spain | 5 | 1 | 664 |
| 8 | Ismaila Sarr | Senegal | 4 | 1 | 419 |
| 9 | Julian Quinones | Mexico | 4 | 1 | 440 |
| 19 | Vinicius Junior | Brazil | 4 | 1 | 505 |
Final Golden Ball Standings
GOLDEN BALL
Golden Ball is awarded to the best player of each edition of a FIFA World Cup. This time it was Spain’s Rodri who won the prestigious award as he completed football by adding yet another trophy to his overflowing cabinet. Besides setting the pace, his leadership proved pivotal in Spain dethroning Argentina.
GOLDEN GLOVE
Across eight games of the World Cup, Unai Simon allowed just one goal while keeping a whopping seven clean sheets, including against Argentina in the final. The performance was a testament to both Simon and Spain’s defensive quality as they erected a giant wall that opponents found difficult to scale. No wonder Simon won the Golden Glove, which is awarded to the tournament’s top goalkeeper.
YOUNG PLAYER
19-year-old centre-back Pau Cubarsi was key to Spain’s impenetrable defence throughout the campaign. The teenager displayed maturity and leadership qualities beyond his years while displaying immense courage.
He may not have hit the headlines like others but quietly ensured Spain’s march to the title was free of any roadblocks. For his outstanding display, Cubarsi won Young Player of the Tournament award.
