The 2026 FIFA World Cup is quickly approaching, and excitement the world over is already ramping up. The curtain raiser takes place on June 10th as Mexico welcomes South Africa to what will no doubt be a raucous Estadio Azteca in Mexico City for a repeat of the 2010 opener. From there, an increased number of 48 teams will battle it out across 104 games, until just two remain, battling it out in MetLife Stadium for the crown.
Three months out from the showpiece, the bookies have a clear favourite in mind. The latest World Cup odds pencil in reigning European Champions Spain as the 9/2 frontrunners, with England, France, and Argentina hot on their heels. Each of them has a talisman capable of winning games on their own, be it Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, or reigning Golden Ball winner Lionel Messi.
The mercurial Argentina captain was named player of the tournament in Qatar after a series of blistering displays, culminating with two goals in the final against Les Bleus. But who joins the Albiceleste captain on the list of most recent Golden Ball winners? Let’s take a look.
2022: Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi was already considered by many to be the greatest football player who had ever lived, even without winning a World Cup. The few remaining doubters thought that he could never be considered better than both his beloved compatriot Diego Maradona and the great Brazilian Pele unless he claimed the finest honour in the game. It looked as though 2022 would represent the little magician’s best and final chance of climbing that mountain, but things couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start.
With many predicting that Argentina would leave Qatar as champions, the Albiceleste were shockingly beaten in their opening game by lowly Saudi Arabia, surrendering a one-goal lead in the process to somehow lose 2-1. That defeat only spurred Messi on.
With his side staring down the barrel, Messi scored a spectacular goal against Mexico to hand his side a crucial win before turning creator in the 2-0 triumph against Poland. In the round of 16, the Argentina skipper was on centre stage once more, scoring against Australia to help his side through to the quarterfinals. There, he would net against the Netherlands, before scoring from the penalty spot in the resulting penalty shootout in a 1-1 draw.
In the semifinals against Croatia, Messi was at his sensational best. He scored the opener from the penalty spot, before embarking on a mazy run deep into the second half to assist Julian Alvarez and punch his side’s ticket to the final. In the showpiece in Lusail, he netted twice against France, as well as netting yet another spot kick in the resulting penalty shootout to help his nation claim the trophy at long last and cement his legacy as the greatest player that’s ever lived.
Messi’s seven goals and three assists were enough to secure the Player of the Tournament award, and rightfully so. But the one that mattered the most was the World Cup winners’ medal he also claimed, at long last.
2018: Luka Modric
Croatia was an afterthought heading into the 2018 World Cup. However, their golden generation should have been afforded more respect. At the centre of that generation was metronomic midfielder Luka Modric. The Real Madrid ace had just claimed his third straight Champions League title with Los Blancos before jetting out to Russia, and he was determined to carry that impeccable form onto the grandest stage.
Modric started all seven games at the tournament as he shockingly led Croatia to a first-ever final. He scored a stunning goal in the 3-0 triumph against Argentina in the group stage, before becoming the crucial cog in midfield, anchoring thrilling wins against Denmark, hosts Russia, and England to secure a spot opposite France in the final. Unfortunately for Modric, his side would come up just short against Les Bleus, with a teenage Kylian Mbappe on song in a 4-2 French win.
But the Croatian superstar would end the tournament with the runners-up medal and the Golden Ball award, as well as going on to win the Ballon d’Or – awarded to the best player on the planet – at the end of the year.
2014: Lionel Messi
Messi’s 2022 coronation may have been his first time winning the World Cup, but it wasn’t the first time he’d been named player of the tournament. The Argentina skipper was in scintillating form back in 2014 as well, especially in the group stage. He scored spectacular goals against Bosnia, Iran, and Nigeria (twice) to help the Albiceleste to top spot in Group F, before his teammates took charge throughout the knockout round.
Angel Di Maria scored a last-gasp winner in the second round against Switzerland, before Gonzalo Higuain became the hero in the quarters against Belgium. The semifinal against the Netherlands would end goalless, but Argentina progressed on penalties courtesy of the exploits of goalkeeper Sergio Romero. But in the final, Messi would suffer his ultimate heartbreak. Tied at 0-0 deep into extra time, Argentina would ultimately succumb to a well-drilled Germany team, with Mario Gotze bagging in the dying embers of extra time in Rio De Janeiro. But even in defeat, Messi would at least secure the consolation prize and was named player of the tournament.
