As the much-anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks-off tonight, FIFA have officially unveiled the Golden Ball, Golden Boot and Golden Gloves award for the competition.
Prominent digital sports media company Bleacher Report shared images of each of the three prizes on their official X handle.
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While the World Cup trophy is what every team’s sights are on, there are three coveted individual prizes up for grabs too: the tournament’s best player will take home the Golden Ball, the top goalscorer wins the Golden Boot, and the top-performing goalkeeper wins the Golden Gloves.
On the eve of the opening clash between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa, Adidas released the latest edition of each of the three trophies with updated designs.
Speaking of Golden Ball, the most prestigious individual trophy in the competition, its design is inspired by the Adidas Trionda matchball that will be used at the tournament.
The Golden Boot, a prize fiercely contested by the best forwards in the business, is modeled on the Adidas’ premium range of 1994 football boots called Adidas Predator.
Both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot were first introduced at the FIFA World Cup in 1982, with Italy’s Paolo Rossi making a clean sweep of awards for guiding his side to their third title while also finishing as the top scorer with six goals.
Meanwhile, the Golden Gloves award once again features a sculpted hand. It was first handed out in 1994 as ‘Lev Yashin Award’ in honor of the late Soviet Union goalkeeper. Belgian custodian Michel Preud’homme was the first winner with two clean sheets at the USA showpiece.
The award was later rebranded to ‘Golden Gloves’ in 2010, famously won by then-Spain captain Iker Casillas for his assured displays at the back that yielded five clean sheets en route to their FIFA World Cup triumph.
Favorites to win individual prizes at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
With the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup upon us, the favorites for this tournament’s Golden Ball, Golden Boot and Golden Gloves are being drawn out.
Argentina star Lionel Messi claimed the best player award in 2022 and could retain the prize, although French duo Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele as well as Spain’s Lamine Yamal could be among the top contenders as all of them are coming off the back of splendid club campaigns.
England’s Harry Kane is eyeing a second FIFA World Cup Golden Boot after a phenomenal 61-goal run with Bayern Munich in 2025-26 season, while last edition’s top-scorer Kylian Mbappe can’t be counted out too.
With Norway qualifying for the first time since 1998, goal-machine Erling Haaland is in the running too after finishing as the most prolific player in the qualifiers with 16 goals.
As for the Golden Gloves, Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez could make it two in a row at the FIFA World Cup if he’s able to replicate his heroics from 2022. Spain’s David Raya, Brazil’s Alisson, and English custodian Jordan Pickford could all stake a claim too.
Edited by Vignesh Raja