Every World Cup MVP: Who won the Golden Ball in every tournament

The FIFA World Cup Golden Ball is awarded to the tournament’s outstanding player. The honor is presented during the World Cup closing ceremony, once the final has been played and the champion has been crowned. Throughout the tournament, FIFA compiles a shortlist of the competition’s top performers, and members of the accredited media vote to determine the winner. The award has been presented since the 1982 World Cup and is sponsored by Adidas and France Football.

Every winner of the World Cup Golden Ball:

• 1982 World Cup: Paolo Rossi (Italy)

Paolo Rossi became the first player ever to win the World Cup Golden Ball. The Italian striker arrived at the tournament under intense scrutiny after serving a two-year suspension for his involvement in a match-fixing and illegal betting scandal. In Spain, however, Rossi transformed into a global superstar. His six goals powered Italy to the World Cup title and earned him both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball.

• 1986 World Cup: Diego Maradona (Argentina)

Maradona’s performances at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico secured his place among the game’s immortals. The Argentine captain inspired his country to a second world title with displays that remain etched in soccer history. His legendary quarterfinal against England, featuring both the “Hand of God” goal and the “Goal of the Century,” was enough on its own to make him a worthy winner. Maradona finished the tournament with five goals, one fewer than England’s Gary Lineker, who claimed the Golden Boot.

• 1990 World Cup: Salvatore Schillaci (Italy)

Salvatore “Totò” Schillaci entered Italia ’90 as Italy’s third-choice striker, but emerged as the tournament’s unlikely hero after scoring six goals in seven matches. Along with the Golden Ball, he also won the Golden Boot. However, he became the first player to claim the World Cup MVP award without winning the tournament itself.

• 1994 World Cup: Romário (Brazil)

Romário was the difference-maker for Brazil at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The Brazilian star delivered key goals throughout the knockout rounds and also converted his penalty in the shootout that decided the final against Italy. Brazil captured its fourth World Cup title, with Romário playing a central role in the triumph.

• 1998 World Cup: Ronaldo (Brazil)

Ronaldo had been part of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning squad without playing a minute, but France ’98 was his opportunity to lead from the field. He was outstanding throughout the tournament, yet a mysterious medical incident in the hours before the final left him far from full strength. France, coached by Aimé Jacquet, cruised to a commanding 3-0 victory. Despite Brazil’s defeat, Ronaldo was named the tournament’s Golden Ball winner.

• 2002 World Cup: Oliver Kahn (Germany)

Oliver Kahn remains the only goalkeeper ever to win the World Cup Golden Ball. The German captain reached the final after conceding just one goal throughout the tournament, and that came in the group stage. Waiting for him in the final was Ronaldo, the competition’s most dangerous attacking player, who was eager to make amends for the disappointment of four years earlier. Brazil won 2-0 thanks to a Ronaldo brace, with the first goal coming after a rare mistake by Kahn. Even so, the German goalkeeper was awarded the Golden Ball.

• 2006 World Cup: Zinedine Zidane (France)

Zinedine Zidane experienced a storyline not unlike Kahn’s in Germany 2006. The French legend was playing the final tournament of his career and delivered a series of masterful performances. In the final against Italy, it appeared he might bow out in perfect fashion after scoring the opening goal. The match took a dramatic turn, though, as Italy equalized and Zidane was sent off after headbutting Marco Materazzi. Italy eventually prevailed in a penalty shootout, but Zidane still took home the Golden Ball.

• 2010 World Cup: Diego Forlán (Uruguay)

The Adidas Jabulani ball was one of the most talked-about stories of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Criticized by many players for its unpredictable flight, it seemed perfectly suited to Diego Forlán. The Uruguayan forward, it later emerged, had practiced extensively with the ball before the tournament. Coincidence or not, Forlán scored five spectacular goals and was named the Golden Ball winner.

• 2014 World Cup: Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Lionel Messi played in his first World Cup final at Brazil 2014. It is not a tournament he remembers fondly, however, as Argentina fell to Germany in the championship match. The final was decided in extra time by Mario Götze’s unforgettable winner. From that moment on, winning a World Cup became Messi’s ultimate obsession, the one major honor still missing from his résumé. His four goals earned him the Golden Ball, though it would take another eight years before he finally lifted the World Cup trophy.

• 2018 World Cup: Luka Modrić (Croatia)

Croatia entered the 2018 World Cup as a dark horse, but subsequent events have shown their success was no fluke. Orchestrated by Luka Modrić, the Croats reached the final after a flawless group-stage campaign that included a victory over Argentina. They then eliminated Denmark, host nation Russia, and England on their path to the title match. Croatia ultimately fell to a powerful French side, but Modrić had already made history. A few months later, the Croatian midfielder capped off a remarkable year by winning the Ballon d’Or.

• 2022 World Cup: Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Messi finally captured the one trophy that had eluded him throughout his career. The Argentine superstar led his nation to World Cup glory in Qatar while also finishing as Argentina’s leading scorer with seven goals. At 35 years old, Messi guided La Albiceleste to its first world title since 1986, cementing his place among the greatest players in soccer history.

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