Our three-part Football Manager 26 simulation of the 2026 World Cup comes to an end with the individual award winners.
There were a lot of interesting results, and final outcomes, in both the group stages and the knockout stages. If you haven’t read them yet, catch up and then get back to us.
Aside from the actual trophy, there are four key individual awards handed out at the end of the World Cup. And we used our FM26 simulation to see who would come out on top across our tournament.
Golden Boot
Erling Haaland was key to Norway’s simulated World Cup win, breaking a fair few records. He netted 17 goals overall, which is the most in a single World Cup tournament. It was enough to secure him the Golden Boot, with Kylian Mbappe is closest competitor on nine goals. But Mbappe stopped Haaland from holding the all-time World Cup goals record, taking his total tally to 21 (to Haaland’s 17).
Seven players in total scored at least five goals, with Lautaro Martinez completing the top three with seven. Romelu Lukaku scored six, with Scott McTomniay, Jude Bellingham and Michael Olise all tied on five.
Golden Ball
Unsurprisingly, Haaland also ended the World Cup with the Golden Ball award for the best player. It would make him just the second player to win the Golden Boot, official Golden Ball and the World Cup at the same tournament after Italy’s Paolo Rossi in 1982. Mario Kempes of Argentina did also do it, if you count the 1978 unofficial Golden Ball award — picked by journalists and experts, but recognised by Fifa.
Haaland finished above Kylian Mbappe and compatriot Oscar Bobb in our FM26’s simulation, to join the likes of Lionel Messi, Luka Modric, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo as Golden Ball winners.
Golden Glove
At the other end of the the pitch, Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel took the Golden Glove award. He kepy five clean sheets during our simulated World Cup, joined on that number by Norway’s Egil Selvik and Mike Maignan of France. But the Golden Glove isn’t awarded on clean sheets alone, it’s about the performances too.
Kobel made 41 saves across the simulated tournament, the most of any other goalkeeper. He was a big part of Switzerland’s run to the final.
Best Young Player
The final award, for the Best Young Player at the World Cup went to Antonio Nusa. This award has been given to the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba, Thomas Muller and Lukas Podolski since its debut in 2006.
Nusa played in six of Norway’s simulated games en route to winning the trophy, scoring three goals and providing two assists. And he missed the semi-final and final due to injury.
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