8 leading candidates for World Cup's Golden Ball (best player) award
CTV
The men’s FIFA World Cup has entered its final stages. CTVNews.ca takes a look at the leading candidate from each of the quarter-finalists for the Golden Ball award, considered the tournament’s best player award.
As the men’s FIFA World Cup enters the quarter-final stage, the dust is clearing on not only which teams look most likely to claim the biggest prize, but also which players are at the front of the line for the prestigious Golden Ball award, an award recognizing the tournament’s best player.
There have been 10 winners since the award was first introduced in 1982. Croatia’s Luka Modric was the last one after leading his team to the final in 2018. Only three of the prize winners have been from teams that won the World Cup that year, Romario the last one when Brazil won in 1994.
Eight of the 10 winners have been from a team that played the final, with Uruguay’s Diego Forlan in 2010 and Italy’s Salvatore Schillaci in 1990 being the exceptions. Both their teams lost in the semifinals.
Despite there being a Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper, Germany’s Oliver Kahn became the first and only keeper to win the Golden Ball in 2002.
With that, here’s CTVNews.ca’s look at the top candidate from each of the remaining teams in this tournament:
As things stand, this is Mbappe’s award to lose. The Best Young Player of the 2018 World Cup has been the main man for France with five goals entering a quarter-final showdown against England.
Playing on the left wing, Mbappe has been an absolute nightmare for defenders to deal with because of his pace, power, and silky skill.
