What is ‘Golden Ball’ trophy awarded at FIFA World Cup?
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FIFA Golden Ball 2014 - Lionel Messi
The FIFA World Cup is the most valuable championship in international football and, more broadly, in global sports. The competition is held every four years and allows countries from all over the world to showcase their best football players at the highest level.
Qatar will organize the FIFA World Cup from November 20, 2022, to December 18, 2022. FIFA recognizes the best players after the championship wraps up. At the championship’s end, the mentioned prizes will be given: Golden Ball, Golden Boot, Golden Glove, Best Young Player, and FIFA Fair Play Trophy are all awards given out by FIFA.
Also Read: What are the various awards at FIFA World Cup?
What is the Golden Ball?
The Golden Ball award is given to the best player at every World Cup finals, with the FIFA technical committee compiling a list of applicants and media representatives picking the champion. It should not be confused with the Golden Boot award, which is handed to the player with the most goals throughout the contest.
The existing Golden Ball award was first presented to Italy’s Paolo Rossi during the 1982 World Cup, which was sponsored by Adidas. Players who finish second and third in the vote for the trophy receive the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball as the tournament’s second and third-best players, respectively.
Who are the previous winners of the Golden Ball?
Luka Modric received the Golden Ball as the World Cup’s best player in 2018. The Croatia captain and Real Madrid midfielder influenced his team to the final for the inaugural time in their history, but he couldn’t stop Didier Deschamps’ squad from winning 4-2 in Moscow. Modric defeated Belgium’s Eden Hazard and Antoine Griezmann, who won the Silver and Bronze Balls after scoring for Les Bleus in the final.
Diego Forlan (2010), Zinedine Zidane (2006), Oliver Kahn (2002), Ronaldo (1998), Romario (1994), Salvatore Schillaci (1990), Diego Maradona (1986), and Paolo Rossi are only a few of the players who have won the Golden Ball in previous competitions (1982).
The Golden Ball trophy was last given to a player whose squad won the competition in 1994 when Romario and Brazil won the World Cup,
Who are the 2022 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball contenders?
Lionel Messi
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is most certainly the final World Cup for Lionel Messi. For this, he will undoubtedly be going to push himself to the limit to bring home the coveted trophy. With the help of many top-notch players that will support Messi in his effort the win the FIFA World Cup, the likelihood of winning the Golden Ball is also extremely high.
Kylian Mbappe
France star, Kylian Mbappe is regarded as one of the top scorers right now. He was also a recipient of the Roosters team that triumphed in the World Cup four years ago in Russia. At the World Cup, Mbappe will not just be the leading contender for the Golden Ball, but he also has a chance to win the Golden Boot.
Neymar Jr
Neymar is off to a promising outset in the latest campaign. In just eleven games played for PSG’s Ligue 1 campaign this season, he has nine goals and seven assists. There is a strong probability he will bring home the Golden Ball if he can play at the same level for Brazil at the World Cup.
Read More: Who won Golden Ball in last edition of FIFA World Cup in 2018?
Read More: Who won FIFA World Cup’s first-ever Golden Ball?
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FS Desk
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