Last 7 World Cup Golden Ball Winners: Where Are They Now?

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Here are the last 7 World Cup Golden Ball winners: Where are they now?

7. Lionel Messi – Barcelona

The winner of the 2014 World Cup Golden Ball was a somewhat controversial choice. Lionel Messi was excellent for Argentina, being named as Man of the Match in five out of the seven games he played in. However, a number of people felt Colombia star James Rodriguez was more deserving of the award.

Anyhow, it went to Messi whose Argentina side lost 1-0 to Germany in the final. Messi has since continued to be absolutely sensational, with 198 goals in 212 games for Barcelona in the four years since that tournament, despite often playing in a much deeper role.

6. Diego Forlan – Free Agent

Diego Forlan arrives for The Best FIFA Football Awards – Green Carpet Arrivals on October 23, 2017 in London, England.

There were some excellent candidates for the 2010 World Cup Golden Ball, and I don’t think too many people could have complained if it had gone to Xavi, Andres Iniesta or Wesley Sneijder. Equally though, Diego Forlan was a just as deserved winner. At the age of 31, he was a talisman for Uruguay and the joint top scorer at the tournament with five goals, three of which came from outside the penalty area. Forlan was staring for Atletico Madrid at the time, but the tournament marked the end of his career at the highest level. Following a disappointing stint in Italy, Forlan has since played in Brazil, Japan, Uruguay, India and Hong Kong. Now aged 39, Forlan left Kitchee of Hong Kong and the end of last season, but hasn’t yet confirmed his retirement from the game.

5. Zinedine Zidane – Manager (Unattached)

Beating off the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro and Andrea Pirlo to win the 2006 World Cup Golden Ball, that tournament was the last we saw of Zinedine Zidane. The then 34-year-old had shown glimpses of decline at Real Madrid, and was clearly keen to go out on top. He almost went out at the very top, as France’s star man in their run to the final. The less said about the final the better from Zizou’s perspective unfortunately, however, with the former Ballon d’Or winner being handed his marching orders.

Zidane managed Real Madrid’s reserve side from 2014 to 2016, when he was handed the top job. Three Champions League titles in three seasons is a remarkable achievement regardless of the talent one has at their disposal, and Zidane is unlikely to be short of options when he does decide to return to full time management.

4. Oliver Kahn – Pundit

Oliver Rolf Kahn former German goalkeeper during the International Friendly match between Portugal and Saudi Arabia at Estadio do Fontelo on November 10, 2017 in Viseu, Portugal.

We’ll keep it brief on this one, since Oliver Kahn only very recently featured in our look at the last 7 World Cup Golden Glove winners. Basically, Kahn was tremendous at the 2002 World Cup, and only his biggest rival for the Golden Ball, Ronaldo, could put an end to Germany’s World Cup hopes. Kahn continued to star for Bayern up until 2008 when he hung up his gloves, and the 49-year-old now works as a football pundit on German TV.

3. Ronaldo – Ambassador

One could make a strong case that Ronaldo ought to have won the World Cup Golden Ball in both 1998 and 2002, but the former was the only time he officially got his hands on that accolade. Incredibly quick, technically brilliant, strong, cunning and clinical, he may only have been 21, but Ronaldo was just about at the peak of his powers in 1998. His four goals and three assists at France ‘98 inspired Brazil to a second consecutive World Cup final, but just hours before the final itself, Ronaldo was in hospital receiving treatment for a convulsive fit. He played but wasn’t himself as Brazil lost 3-0. Now aged 41, the all time great works in an array of ambassadorial roles, including charity work with the United Nations and FIFA as a World Cup Legends Ambassador.

2. Romario – Politician

Former Brazilian football star and current senator Romario attends the opening session of the parliamentary committee of inquiry into corruption in the Brazilian football and the 2014…

From one great Brazilian centre-forward to another, whilst Ronaldo was an unstoppable combination of pace, power and flair, Romario was the epitome of natural goal scoring genius. He was up to his usual tricks at the 1994 World Cup in America, scoring five goals and being named as the best player at the tournament. Remarkably, Romario is the last man to have won both the Golden Ball and the World Cup itself at the same tournament. Since belatedly hanging up his boots at the ripe old age of 43, Romario has entered politics, and he plans to run for Governor of Rio in Brazil’s October 2018 elections.

1. Salvatore Schillaci – No Idea

Well, this is a first for HITC Sevens, but we really don’t know what Salvatore Schillaci is getting up to these days, so if you do, please let us know in the comments section. What we do know is that Schillaci was one of the stars of Italia ‘90, with his stardom emerging as rapidly as it decimated. His football career ended in Japan in 1997, and he appeared on Irish TV in their coverage of Euro 2012. Since then, as we said, we just have no idea.