MEXICO CITY, JUN 10: Only one man has won multiple adidas Golden Balls at the World Cup. Lionel Messi registered four goals, including three beauties, as Argentina finished runners-up at Brazil 2014. He duly beat Germany’s Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben of the Netherlands to the tournament’s top individual award.

Lionel Messi | Golden Ball Award | 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™
The adidas Golden Ball is presented to the best player at each FIFA World Cup finals. Those who finish as runners-up in the vote receive the adidas Silver Ball and Bronze Ball awards as the second and third most outstanding players in the tournament respectively.
At his fifth World Cup at Qatar 2022, Messi finally got his hands on the trophy. Argentina’s first triumph in 36 years was indebted to ‘The Atomic Flea’, who struck seven goals, including two in the final.

Four other players have been on the categorical podium twice. Paolo Rossi seized the adidas Silver Ball in 1978 and the Golden Ball four years later. Diego Maradona grabbed the Golden Ball in 1986 and the adidas Bronze Ball in 1990. Ronaldo claimed the Golden Ball in 1998 and the Silver Ball in 2002, and Luka Modric won the Golden Ball in 2018 and the Bronze Ball in 2022.