The trophy is the prize every team chases, but individual players also compete for a set of prestigious personal awards. Alongside the Golden Boot for the top scorer, the World Cup hands out several honours after the final.
The Golden Ball
The Golden Ball goes to the best overall player of the tournament, voted for by the media. It rewards influence across the whole campaign rather than just goals, and past winners read like a list of the game's greatest names. Silver and Bronze Ball awards go to the runners-up.
The Golden Glove
Named after the great Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin, the Golden Glove is awarded to the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Clean sheets matter, but so do decisive saves in the knockout rounds, where a keeper can drag a team to the final almost single-handedly.
Best Young Player and Fair Play
The Best Young Player award recognises the standout performer aged 21 or under, often launching a global career overnight. FIFA also gives a Fair Play award to the team with the best disciplinary and sporting record. Together these prizes tell the story of a World Cup beyond who lifted the cup.