Mbappe Wins Golden Boot as Spain Sweeps FIFA Awards

Spain’s dominance at the expanded FIFA World Cup extended beyond the championship trophy as its players claimed every major individual honour, while France captain Kylian Mbappe etched his name into history by winning the Golden Boot for the second consecutive World Cup.

Mbappe finished the tournament with 10 goals and three assists, becoming the first player to win the Golden Boot in back-to-back FIFA World Cups. He had also claimed the award in the 2022 edition after finishing ahead of Lionel Messi. This year, Messi ended the tournament as the second-highest scorer with eight goals.

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Rodri Named FIFA World Cup’s Best Player

Spain captain Rodri was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player despite not scoring or providing an assist. His control in midfield proved vital throughout Spain’s title-winning campaign.

The Spanish midfielder completed a tournament-high 753 passes with an outstanding 94% passing accuracy. According to FIFA statistics, Rodri was directly involved in 1,803 phases of play, nearly 200 more than any other player in the competition.

Reflecting on his achievement, Rodri said overcoming an eight-month injury layoff made the award even more special.

“The eight months away from football due to injury were extremely difficult. If you fall, you can always rise again. Staying positive and believing in yourself is the key to success,” he said.

Lionel Messi received the Silver Ball, while Mbappe was awarded the Bronze Ball.

Spain Clinches Goalkeeper and Young Player Awards

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon won the Golden Glove after keeping clean sheets in seven of his eight matches during the tournament.

Nineteen-year-old Spanish defender Pau Cubarsi was named the Best Young Player, edging out teammate Lamine Yamal for the prestigious honour.

Tempers Flare After World Cup Final

The celebrations following Spain’s World Cup triumph were briefly overshadowed by heated scenes involving Argentina players after the final whistle.

While captain Lionel Messi remained seated on the pitch in disappointment, several Argentine players confronted Spanish footballers, leading to pushing, shoving and physical altercations.

Midfielder Leandro Paredes was seen grabbing Spain defender Eric Garcia by the neck before pushing him. Substitute Gavi, who attempted to calm the situation, was also shoved to the ground.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and players from both teams intervened to prevent the confrontation from escalating further. Referees later showed Paredes a straight red card for his actions.

The controversy continued during the trophy ceremony as several Argentina players reportedly turned their backs on the podium while Spain lifted the FIFA World Cup, drawing criticism from fans and football experts.

Trump, Halftime Show Grab Global Attention

The World Cup final also attracted attention for its star-studded entertainment and political presence.

The halftime show featured performances and music associated with Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and Robbie Williams, marking the first time in FIFA World Cup history that the halftime interval was extended for a grand entertainment spectacle.

US President Donald Trump also attended the final and joined FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the trophy presentation. Their appearance drew mixed reactions from spectators, while Trump’s extended stay on the podium briefly delayed Spain’s trophy celebration.

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