Every Golden Ball Winners in World Cup History

Charlie Zschau Published: May 29 2026 20:39

The World Cup's Golden Ball award recognizes the tournament's best player.

The Golden Ball is a trophy is handed to the best player of the tournament, and takes into account both individual and team performance. The trophy is typically won by a player on a team that reaches the final, or at least the semi-final of the tournament.

The award was given to Lionel Messi in 2022 for his incredible performances while leading Argentina to it's third World Cup victory in Qatar.

Messi is the only player to ever win the Golden ball more than once, winning it two of the last three times.

List of Every Golden Ball Winner

2022	Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2018	Luka Modric (Croatia)
2014	Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2010	Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
2006	Zinedine Zidane (France)
2002	Oliver Kahn (Germany)
1998	Ronaldo (Brazil)
1994	Romario (Brazil)
1990	Salvatore Schillaci (Italy)
1986	Diego Maradona (Argentina)
1982	Paolo Rossi (Italy)

Italian soccer star Paolo Rossi was award the first ever Golden Ball award for his contributions to Italy's third World Cup victory in 1982. Rossi scored six goals in the 1982 tournament, including 3 goals in the second round, 2 goals in the semifinal, and one goal in the final.

Argentine legend Diego Maradona won the second Golden Ball in 1986, and 36-years later Lionel Messi won his second Golden Ball personally, making Argentina the country with the most Golden Ball awards (3).

Luka Modric had a memorable tournament in 2018, carrying Croatia to the final against France.

The Golden Ball has been given to a player from the winning team only four out of 11 tournaments (1982, 1986, 1994, and 2022).

It has been award to a player from the runner-up five times (1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, and 2018).

Diego Forlan is the only player to win the Golden Ball award in a year that his team did not finish within the top-three spots in the tournament.