In football, what is the award for the best player at the FIFA World Cup called?
VerifiedAnswer: Golden Ball
Explanation:
The Golden Ball is the prestigious award given to the best player at each FIFA World Cup tournament. This award recognizes the outstanding individual performance of a player throughout the entire World Cup competition, making it one of the most coveted honors in international football.
The selection process for the Golden Ball involves voting by media representatives who are accredited to cover the World Cup. These journalists and football experts evaluate players based on their technical skills, leadership qualities, impact on their team's performance, and overall contribution to the tournament. The winner doesn't necessarily have to be from the championship-winning team, as the award focuses purely on individual excellence.
Some memorable Golden Ball winners include Diego Maradona in 1986, who led Argentina to victory with his brilliant performances, and Luka Modrić in 2018, who became the first player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award in over a decade. Modrić's win was particularly special as he guided Croatia to their first-ever World Cup final despite not winning the tournament.
Along with the Golden Ball, FIFA also presents the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball to the second and third-best players of the tournament respectively. Additionally, there are other individual awards such as the Golden Boot for the top scorer and the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper, making the World Cup not just about team success but also celebrating individual brilliance on football's biggest stage.
