Lionel Messi To Zinedine Zidane: Players To Win Golden Ball In FIFA World Cup

Paolo Rossi of Italy was the first-ever winner of the Golden Ball award in FIFA World Cup history. He received the honour in the 1982 edition after helping Italy win their third world title. (Picture Credit: X)

Argentina's Diego Maradona won the Golden Ball award at the 1986 FIFA World Cup. He captained Argentina and played a pivotal role in helping them secure their second world title. (Picture Credit: X)

Italian footballer Salvatore Schillaci won the Golden Ball award at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, finishing ahead of Germany's Lothar Matthäus and Argentina's Diego Maradona. (Picture Credit: X/@FIFA)

Brazilian striker Romário scored five goals at the 1994 FIFA World Cup to help Brazil win their fourth world title and, in the process, also won the Golden Ball award. (Picture Credit: X/@FIFA)

Brazilian striker Ronaldo won the Golden Ball at the 1998 FIFA World Cup after scoring four goals for the South American giants. (Picture Credit: AFP)

Legendary German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn won the Golden Ball at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. During that edition, he conceded only three goals, two of which came against Brazil in the final. (Picture Credit: X/@FIFA)

Zinedine Zidane of France was named the best player of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He scored three goals to help France reach the final. It was the last tournament of his professional career, and in the final he famously headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi. (Picture Credit: X)

Uruguay forward Diego Forlán won the Golden Ball at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He scored five goals in the first-ever FIFA World Cup held on African soil and helped Uruguay finish fourth. (Picture Credit: AFP)

Lionel Messi is the only footballer to have won two Golden Ball awards at the FIFA World Cup. He won his first in 2014, when Argentina finished as runners-up, and his second in 2022, when Argentina lifted the trophy after 36 years. (Picture Credit: AFP)

Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić won the Golden Ball at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The former Real Madrid star helped his country reach the final, where Croatia eventually lost 4-2 to France. (Picture Credit: AFP)