It's been some time since a player has taken a World Cup by the scruff of the neck and won the title. Luka Modric was the standout player in Russia four years ago, but his Croatia side fell at the final hurdle. The same happened to Lionel Messi in 2014, and the winner of the Golden Ball in 2010, Diego Forlán, didn't even reach the final. In fact, one has to go back to Romário at USA 94 to find the last player to have taken home both the title and the award for best player.
The same is true of the Golden Boot. In the last 40 years, only Ronaldo in 2002 has finished top scorer while also winning the tournament. More recently, top scorers - such as James Rodríguez in 2014 and Harry Kane in 2018 - have played in sides who have left far less of an impression on the tournament. Not since Paolo Rossi at the 1982 World Cup has a player won the Golden Ball, Golden Boot and World Cup. Before that only Garrincha in 1962 and Mario Kempes had completed the trio.
Now, though, Kylian Mbappé is on course to upend the poor correlation between individual awards and team success. There has been little doubting his talent, especially after he played such an instrumental role in helping France secure the title in 2018, but this season has been tougher for Mbappé, with the sizzling form of Messi and Neymar leaving him a little in the shade.
This story is from the December 07, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the December 07, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
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