{"id":29340,"date":"2026-07-20T11:53:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T06:08:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english.kathmandupati.com\/?p=29340"},"modified":"2026-07-20T11:53:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T06:08:56","slug":"rodri-wins-golden-ball-mbappe-retains-golden-boot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english.kathmandupati.com\/?p=29340","title":{"rendered":"Rodri Wins golden ball, Mbappe retains golden boot"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kathmandu [Nepal], July 20 –<\/strong> Rodri Hernandez Cascante captained Spain to FIFA World Cup 2026 glory and was named the tournament’s best player earning the golden ball after leading his country to its second world title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final, ending a 16-year wait for the trophy. Rodri’s performances throughout the tournament secured him the Adidas golden ball ahead of Argentina captain Lionel Messi and France skipper Kylian Mbappe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The midfielder became only Spain’s second world cup winning captain after Iker Casillas who led the nation to its maiden title in 2010. Rodri made his senior debut for Spain in 2018 and has since become one of the team’s most influential figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France captain Mbappe finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals in eight matches, winning the golden boot for a second consecutive world cup. He finished two goals ahead of Messi and became the first player to claim the award twice after also winning it in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mbappe scored twice each against Senegal, Iraq, Sweden and England while adding one goal apiece against Morocco and Paraguay. The Golden Boot has been awarded to the tournament’s leading scorer since the 1982 FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spain also collected two other individual honours. Defender Pau Cubarsi was named the tournament’s Best Young Player while goalkeeper Unai Simon received the Golden Glove after conceding just one goal in seven matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spain’s World Cup triumph combined with three major individual awards, capped a dominant campaign that underlined the team’s resurgence on football’s biggest stage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kathmandu [Nepal], July 20 – Rodri Hernandez Cascante captained Spain to FIFA World Cup 2026 glory and was named the tournament’s best player earning the golden ball after leading his country to its second world title. Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final, ending a 16-year wait for the trophy. 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