In every edition since 1982, the World Cup Golden Ball has been awarded to the tournament’s most superlative player.
With 10 recipients now on the list, it is worthwhile noting that the last five successive Golden Ball winners have all featured for the runners-up.
This year’s tournament has only just begun, but there are a whole host of potential frontrunners who are tipped to write themselves into the history books. Despite falling the a shock defeat against Saudi Arabia in their opening game, Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi has been widely touted to lead his nation to the title in what looks set to be his final World Cup.
This would be his second Golden Ball award having been awarded the player of the tournament award in 2014, while France’s Kylian Mbappe, who is the favourite across football betting sites, and England’s Bukayo Saka have begun their respective tournaments in style.
2022 World Cup Golden Ball Outright Odds
| Player | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappe | 6/1 |  |
| Lionel Messi |
9/1 | |
| Vinicius Jr | 12/1 | |
| Neymar |
14/1 | |
| Richarlison | 14/1 | |
| Pedri |
16/1 | |
| Cristiano Ronaldo |
20/1 | |
| Kevin De Bruyne / Harry Kane / Jude Bellingham |
25/1 | |
In this article, we will rank the top five Golden Ball recipients since 1982, taking into account the level of their individual performances, iconic moments and the importance to their team’s chances.
Top 5 World Cup Golden Ball Winning Performances
5. Oliver Kahn – 2002
The first and only goalkeeper to be awarded the Golden Ball, Oliver Kahn is widely regarded as one of the finest shot-stoppers of all-time.
His performances at the World Cup finals were never rewarded with a world title, but his display between the sticks for Germany in 2002 dragged his nation through some gruelling tests to set up a final with eventual winners Brazil.
Kahn conceded a single goal throughout the course of Germany’s six-match journey from the group stage to the final four, registering five clean sheets with a string of typically heavy-handed, domineering performances.
In particular, he parried away a flurry of shots from a budding young Landon Donovan against the USA in perhaps his best performance of the tournament.
It wasn’t until he came up against the great Ronaldo that he found himself bested, conceding twice as Brazil lifted their fifth World Cup. However, Kahn’s individual displays often single-handedly got the Germans to the final that year, so he comfortably makes it into our top five.
4. Paolo Rossi – 1982
The first ever Golden Ball recipient, Paolo Rossi, comes in at number four.
Italy’s third World Cup win will always be synonymous with Rossi, who’s six goal-performance on the way to the crown remains one of the finest individual displays in the tournament’s history.
Under the blistering Spanish sun of 1982, he entered the tournament having recently been banned following the match-fixing scandal known as Totonero two years prior, and was labelled as lazy and out of shape by the press.
Despite being lampooned as a ‘ghost’ as Italy laboured to three draws in the group stage, he would go on to achieve god-like status for the Azzuri, leading them to glory by netting one of football’s most spectacular hat-tricks against Brazil, as well as a goal in their 3-1 win over Germany in the final.
3. Romario – 1994
Perhaps one of the most under appreciated footballers of all-time, Romario notched in over 750 career goals as well as becoming the first player ever to score 100 goals for three different clubs.
His Golden Ball winning display at the USA 1994 World Cup exemplifies just how deadly he was in front of goal. He found the net in every group game, as well as two of the three knockout games that Brazil played on their way to the title.
He would eventually finish one goal behind the Golden Boot winner Oleg Salenko, but his dazzling flair, quick feet and blistering pace culminated in a thoroughly-deserved Golden Ball award.
Side note: That magic moment between Bebeto and Romario as they swayed their arms from side-to-side, rocking an imaginary baby to celebrate the former’s child being born is one our all-time favourite World Cup memories.
2. Zinedine Zidane – 2006
Zinedine Zidane’s final moments as a footballer in the 2006 World Cup final will long be remembered for that rush of blood, as he proceeded to headbutt Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the chest.
A red card as aggressive and bewildering as that would define most players’ careers, but Zidane’s display at the World Cup that year outshone the one blemish on his otherwise glittering career.
With France struggling to qualify for the tournament in 2005 and veteran players such as Thuram and Desailly stepping down, he came out of international retirement to feature in Germany, where he would lead Les Bleus all the way to the final.
His individual highlights throughout the tournament are vintage Zidane, gliding and dancing across the turf with the ball at his feet, all the while beating players with incredible nonchalance.
In particular, his peerless display against tournament favourites Brazil in the quarter-final is arguably the greatest individual performance ever.
1. Diego Maradona – 1986
Many footballing greats have come and gone, but none have had quite the impact on the World Cup as Diego Maradona did in 1986.
Undoubtedly the greatest version of El Pibe de Oro, his telepathic connection with the ball at his feet, combined with a squat figure and a low centre of gravity was unlike anything that had come before.
Donning the Albiceleste of Argentina, his performances somehow glowed brighter than the Mexican sun beating down on the Aztec Stadium. Notable performances include the quarter-final against England, perhaps better-known for the infamous ‘Hand of God’ incident, but the juxtaposition of that and the slaloming individual run that followed only adds to his enigmatic character.
He would go on to score twice in their final four clash with Belgium, before setting up one in the final to hand Argentina their second World Cup.
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