Messi wins Golden Ball, Mbappe gets Golden Boot

After a thrilling final saw Argentina beat France on penalties, the awards for the 2022 World Cup were also announced with some of the biggest names in football recognized, with Lionel Messi from Argentina was confirmed as the best player at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This was Messi’s World Cup — and that was rubber-stamped as he was named the player of the tournament. The 35-year-old finally got his hands on football’s biggest prize, scoring seven goals enroute to hoisting the trophy high into the Qatar night. He became the first man to score in the last 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final of the same edition and wins the individual accolade for a second time. The Adidas Golden Boot was won by Kylian Mbappe, with 8 goals and 2 assists. Lionel Messi collected the Silver Boot and Olivier Giroud from France the Bronze. Emiliano Martinez from Argentina collected the Adidas Golden Glove while England took the FIFA Fair Play award. England did not leave Qatar empty-handed after all. Gareth Southgate’s side went the entire group stage without picking up as much as a booking and extended that run as they beat Senegal 3-0 in the last 16. It was only in their quarter-final defeat to France where they troubled the referee’s notebook as Manchester United captain Harry Maguire was cautioned in the closing stages with England chasing the game.