FIFA announces 2018 World Cup individual awards
Photo credit: Russian Presidential Press and Information Office (Creative Commons license)
The 2018 FIFA World Cup came to an end Sunday with France topping Croatia 4-2 in the final to hoist the title. On Saturday, Belgium bested England 2-0 to capture third place. Shortly after Sunday’s final, the winners of the tournament’s individual awards were announced:
GOLDEN BALL
Luka Modric, M, Croatia
The diminutive Real Madrid standout was bossy all over the midfield throughout the tournament in leading Croatia to the final. Even at 32, Modric is still firmly entrenched in his prime and playing the best football of his career. It’s no wonder Los Blancos have experienced so much Champions League success the past several years with Modric pulling the strings. Now, he has the highest individual accolade achievable in the international game to rest on his mantle as well.
GOLDEN BOOT
Harry Kane, F, England
The Tottenham striker didn’t cruise to this award in necessarily sublime fashion. He bagged a hat trick in England’s win over Panama in the Group Phase and tacked on three more to finish with a winning total of six. Among them, half were penalties. But hey, goals are goals, and Kane has developed a knack for scoring them in bunches in a variety of ways.
FIFA YOUNG PLAYER
Kylian Mbappe, F, France
The 19-year-old’s coming-out party concluded not only with a stellar four goals, but also becoming a global household name. And, barring injury, it’s a name football viewers will continue hearing for the next several World Cup cycles. Three of Mbappe’s strikes came in huge moments in the knockout stage: a brace against Argentina and goal in the final vs. Croatia for an encore.
GOLDEN GLOVE
Thibaut Courtois, G, Belgium
The Chelsea ‘keeper allowed six goals in seven games, a very solid, if unspectacular, mark. Courtois was consistently sharp for what looked like the second-best squad at the tournament. His Belgium side had to go through a litany of uber-talented squads en route to a third-place finish, and he answered the bell every step of the way.
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