The FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar produced one of the most memorable tournaments in football history. Argentina lifted the World Cup after defeating France in a dramatic final, while Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Emiliano Martinez and Enzo Fernandez collected some of the tournament’s biggest individual awards.
From the Golden Ball to the Golden Boot and Golden Glove, the FIFA World Cup 2022 recognized some of the outstanding performers who made the tournament so memorable.
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Lionel Messi wins the Golden Ball
Lionel Messi was named the best player of the FIFA World Cup 2022 after leading Argentina to their first World Cup title since 1986.
The award was particularly significant for Messi because it came after a tournament in which he played a decisive role throughout Argentina’s campaign. The 35-year-old scored important goals, provided assists and consistently influenced matches from the opening game through to the final.
Messi scored twice against France in the final and also converted Argentina’s first penalty during the shootout. Argentina eventually won 4-2 on penalties after the match finished 3-3 following extra time.
The Golden Ball was Messi’s second at a World Cup. He had previously received the award at the 2014 tournament in Brazil, although Argentina lost the final to Germany.
This time, however, Messi combined the individual honor with the ultimate prize: the FIFA World Cup trophy.
Lionel Messi’s FIFA World Cup 2022 statistics
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches | 7 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Shots | 27 |
| Shots on target | 14 |
| Passes | 294 |
| Tackles | 3 |
| Fouls committed | 8 |
| Fouls won | 20 |
Messi finished the FIFA World Cup 2022 with seven goals and three assists. His performances throughout the tournament established him as one of the most influential players in Argentina’s championship campaign.
Kylian Mbappe wins the Golden Boot
Kylian Mbappe finished the FIFA World Cup 2022 as the tournament’s top scorer and claimed the Golden Boot.
The France forward scored eight goals in seven matches, finishing one goal ahead of Messi. His most impressive performance came in the final against Argentina, where he scored a hat-trick.
Mbappe scored twice from the penalty spot before completing his hat-trick with a spectacular volley in extra time. His three goals helped France recover from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits before Argentina eventually prevailed in the penalty shootout.
The eight goals took Mbappe’s World Cup total to 12 after only two tournaments. He had already scored four goals during France’s successful 2018 campaign.
At just 23 years old during the FIFA World Cup 2022, Mbappe had already established himself as one of the most dangerous forwards in international football.
Top scorers at FIFA World Cup 2022
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappe | France | 8 |
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 7 |
| Olivier Giroud | France | 4 |
| Julian Alvarez | Argentina | 4 |
| Richarlison | Brazil | 3 |
Mbappe also finished second in the overall player award voting, earning the Silver Ball behind Messi.
Emiliano Martinez wins the Golden Glove
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez received the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Martinez played a crucial role in Argentina’s journey to the title, particularly during penalty shootouts.
In the quarter-final against the Netherlands, he saved two penalties as Argentina won the shootout and advanced to the semi-finals.
His biggest moment came in the final against France. With the score tied at 3-3 during extra time, Martinez produced a remarkable late save to deny Randal Kolo Muani from close range.
The save kept Argentina alive and forced the match into a penalty shootout.
Martinez then saved Kingsley Coman’s penalty during the shootout before Argentina converted enough of their attempts to secure the trophy.
His performances made him one of the most important figures in Argentina’s FIFA World Cup 2022 triumph.
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Enzo Fernandez wins the Young Player Award
Enzo Fernandez was named the Young Player of the FIFA World Cup 2022 after an impressive breakthrough tournament with Argentina.
Fernandez did not start Argentina’s opening two matches, but his performances quickly earned him a place in the starting lineup.
One of his biggest moments came against Mexico in the group stage. Fernandez scored a superb curling effort from outside the penalty area to help Argentina secure an important victory.
From that point forward, he became a key part of Argentina’s midfield alongside Rodrigo De Paul and Alexis Mac Allister.
His ability to move the ball, contribute defensively and support Argentina’s attacking players made him an important part of Lionel Scaloni’s team.
The award also marked a major turning point in Fernandez’s career, with his performances at the FIFA World Cup 2022 attracting attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Luka Modric wins the Bronze Ball
Croatia captain Luka Modric received the Bronze Ball after being voted the third-best player of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Despite being 37 years old, Modric remained one of Croatia’s most important players throughout the tournament.
His composure, passing ability and control of midfield helped Croatia reach the semi-finals. Croatia eventually finished third after defeating Morocco in the third-place play-off.
The Bronze Ball was another individual recognition for Modric at the World Cup. Four years earlier, he had won the Golden Ball at the 2018 tournament after leading Croatia to the final.
England receives the Fair Play Award
England received the Fair Play Award at the FIFA World Cup 2022.
The award recognized the team’s disciplinary record during the tournament. England received only one yellow card across their five matches in Qatar.
Although England’s campaign ended in the quarter-finals after a defeat to France, their strong disciplinary record earned them the tournament’s Fair Play recognition.
FIFA World Cup 2022 award winners
| Award | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Ball | Lionel Messi | Argentina |
| Silver Ball | Kylian Mbappe | France |
| Bronze Ball | Luka Modric | Croatia |
| Golden Boot | Kylian Mbappe | France |
| Golden Glove | Emiliano Martinez | Argentina |
| Young Player Award | Enzo Fernandez | Argentina |
| Fair Play Award | England | England |
The FIFA World Cup 2022 final
The final was the defining moment of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Argentina appeared to be in complete control during the first half. Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Angel Di Maria added another goal to give Argentina a 2-0 advantage.
France, however, produced a stunning comeback.
Mbappe scored twice within a short period during the second half, including a penalty, to level the match at 2-2 and force extra time.
Messi restored Argentina’s lead in extra time, but Mbappe completed his hat-trick with another penalty to make it 3-3.
The match eventually went to penalties, where Argentina won 4-2.
The victory gave Messi the World Cup trophy that had been missing from his extraordinary career and secured Argentina’s third World Cup championship.
Messi and Mbappe headline the FIFA World Cup 2022
The rivalry between Messi and Mbappe became one of the defining stories of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Messi finished the tournament with seven goals and three assists, won the Golden Ball and lifted the World Cup.
Mbappe scored eight goals, won the Golden Boot and became only the second player to score a hat-trick in a men’s World Cup final.
Their performances demonstrated the contrast between two generations of football superstars. Messi, at 35, finally achieved his biggest international ambition, while Mbappe, at only 23, continued to establish himself as one of the leading players of the next generation.
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Conclusion
The FIFA World Cup 2022 delivered outstanding individual performances alongside an unforgettable tournament in Qatar. Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball after leading Argentina to the championship, while Kylian Mbappe claimed the Golden Boot with eight goals.
Emiliano Martinez was rewarded with the Golden Glove following several decisive saves, including his crucial intervention against Randal Kolo Muani in the final. Enzo Fernandez won the Young Player Award, while Luka Modric took the Bronze Ball after another impressive World Cup campaign.
Above all, the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be remembered for Argentina’s dramatic victory over France, Messi’s long-awaited World Cup triumph and one of the greatest finals in football history.