New York: Rodrigo Hernandez, the midfield mainstay who played a crucial role in leading Spain to the World Cup, won the Ballon d’Or award for best player at the World Cup.
The player was awarded for his unprecedented performance throughout the tournament. Leading both defense and attack, he effectively blocked Lionel Messi’s magical moves in the final. It was Rodri’s presence that became the heartbeat of the team in all eight matches that Spain played in the tournament.
The 30-year-old football player knew how to play not only in the center of the field, but also to cut off the opponent’s attacks. Credit also goes to Rodriguez, who was a fortress in front of the defense as Spain won the title, conceding just one goal. Spain defender Pau Kubarci won the tournament’s young player award.
France super striker Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot for the World Cup’s top goal hunter. The actor receives the award for the second time in a row.
This made him the first player to win the Golden Boot twice. The player scored 10 goals in eight matches. Messi is second with eight goals. Mbappe was the top scorer at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar with eight goals. The 27-year-old is also the first male player since Gerd Muller to score double-digit goals at a World Cup. Müller’s target was West Germany in 1970.
Only Just Fontaine, who scored 13 goals for France in 1958, and Hungarian Sándor Kocsis (11 goals) in 1954, Mbappe is the top scorer in Men’s World Cup history, with a total of 22 goals – one ahead of Messi. England’s Jude Bellingham and Norway’s Erling Haaland scored seven goals each, while French striker Ousmane Dembele and England captain Harry Kane scored six each.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon received the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper. The player missed only one goal in eight matches. Athletic’s goalkeeper, he kept seven clean sheets in the tournament. In the quarter-finals, only Belgian Charles de Keteler scored a goal ahead of Simone.
Coach Luis de la Fuente named 29-year-old Simeone as Spain’s best goalkeeper, ahead of David Raya, who won the Premier League title with Arsenal.