FIFA World Cup Awards

At the end of each World Cup final tournament, several awards are attributedto the players and teams which have distinguished from the rest, in differentaspects of the game.

There are currently six awards:

• The Golden Ball (currently commercially termed "adidas Golden Ball") for best player (first awarded in 1982).
• The Golden Shoe (also known as the Golden Boot, since 1982 commercially termed "adidas Golden Shoe") was first awarded in 1930 for top goal scorer.
• The Yashin Award for best goalkeeper (first awarded in 1994).
• The FIFA Fair Play Award for the team with the best record of fair play (first awarded in 1978).
• The Most Entertaining Team award for the team that has entertained the public the most, during the World Cup final tournament, as determined by a poll of the general public, first awarded in 1994.
• The Best Young Player (currently commercially termed as "Gillette Best Young Player") award for best player under 21 years of age at the start of the calendar year, which will be awarded for the first time in 2006.

ADIDAS Golden Ball Award

The adidas Golden Ball award is presented to the outstanding player at each FIFA World CupT finals, with ten nominees drawn up by the FIFA technical committee and the winner voted for by representatives of the media.

This is the most prestigious individual award in the world of football.Out of these ten nominated players, selected by the the FIFA Technical StudyGroup, representatives of the media elected the winners of the adidas Golden,Silver and Bronze Ball.

Past adidas Golden Ball Winners

Past winners of the prestigious adidas Golden Ball award include famous facessuch as Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn in 2002, Brazil’s Ronaldo in 1998, Italia90 hitman Salvatore Schillaci and Argentina’s 1986 World Cup™ winner DiegoMaradona.

Every FIFA World Cup™ finals produces one outstanding player destined toleave an indelible mark on the tournament in question. Beginning in 1982, FIFAand adidas have recognised the exceptional performers by awarding the adidasGolden Ball at the end of the event.

The Golden Ball is arguably the most coveted individual trophy in the worldgame. At the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™, Germany's Oliver Kahn became thefirst goalkeeper to claim the prestigious award, accepting a newly-createdversion of the trophy inscribed with the names of all previous winners.

Alongside Kahn, the glittering prize has gone to Paolo Rossi (Italy), DiegoMaradona (Argentina), Toto Schillaci (Italy), Romario (Brazil) and Ronaldo(Brazil). The names of all future winners will be added after each tournament.

The award procedure involves the FIFA technical committee nominating ashortlist of ten contenders following the semi-finals, before mediarepresentatives meet at the play-off for third place to elect the winner of theGold, Silver and Bronze Balls.

The new design commissioned by adidas is based on the historic Chile ballcreated by the equipment manufacturer in 1960 and remains in adidas and FIFA'spossession. The world governing body keeps the trophy on permanent display atFIFA House in Zurich.

GOLDEN BALL AWARDEES

YEAR	HOST	WINNER		TEAM
1982	Spain	Paolo Rossi		Italy
1986	Mexico	Diego Maradona		Argentina
1990	Italy	Salvatore Schillaci		Italy
1994	USA	Romario		Brazil
1998	France	Ronaldo		Brazil
2002	South Korea & Japan	Oliver Kahn		Germany

Golden Shoe Award

The leading goalscorer at every FIFA World Cup™ finals is awarded the adidasGolden Shoe - past winners of the accolade include Gerd Muller, Ronaldo and JustFontaine.

Yashin Award

The Yashin Award is attributed to the best goalkeeper of the World Cupfinal tournament. The award is named in honour of the late and legendary Russiangoalkeeper, Lev Yashin.

FIFA Fair Play Award

The FIFA Fair Play Trophy is given to the team with the best record offair play during the World Cup final tournament. Only teams that qualified forthe second round are considered. The winners of this award earn the FIFA FairPlay Trophy, a diploma, a fair play medal for each player and official, and$50,000 worth of football equipment to be used for youth development.

Most Entertaining Team

The Most Entertaining Team award is attributed to the team that has entertained the public the most during the World Cup final tournament. It is always decided through public participation in a poll.

Best Young Player Award

The Best Young Player (commercially termed "Gillette Best Young Player") award is attributed to the best player in the tournament under 21 years of age at the start of the calendar year for each World Cup. For the 2006 World Cup this means that the player has to have born on or after 1 January 1985. It will be awarded for the first time at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The election will take place on the FIFA's official World Cup website.