Who Wins the Golden ball in Russia

The 2018 FIFA world cup in Russia sadly for most football fans draws to a close on Sunday, 15th July 2018. In what has been the most unpredictable world cup ever, four teams remain; France, Belgium, England and Croatia.

After victories for France and Croatia against Belgium and England respectively, France now face Croatia on Sunday in the finals whiles Belgium face England in the third place playoff the day before. Some questions pop up now; who wins the golden ball (award given to the tournaments best player); who wins the golden boot (top scorer in the tournament); who wins the golden glove (best goalkeeper in the tournament); who the best young player has been and which players make up the team of the tournament?

Pre-tournament favorites like Messi, Ronaldo, Muller, De Gea, Neuer having faced earlier elimination than expected already seem to be out of the running for these accolades. So which remaining players are most likely to pick each award?

GOLDEN BOOT

1. Harry Kane with 6 goals currently leads all scorers at this years competition, 3 of which being from the penalty spot. With the two time premier league top scorer Harry still being active in the competition, he remains the favorite to pick this award and most won't dare bet against him winning it. He is 2 goals clear of his closest rival Lukaku who he faces in his final game of the competition.
2. Romelu Lukaku with 4 goals is Kane's most realistic threat to snatch the golden boot. Two other players; Cristiano Ronaldo and Denis Cheryshev have 4 goals each but have both been eliminated. If Lukaku finishes the 3rd place playoff with a brace and Kane fails to score, Lukaku wins it by virtue of having played 67 minutes less than Kane so far, provided that doesn't change.
3. In a world cup that has been so unpredictable, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe who both have 3 goals each can't quite be ruled out as is Eden Hazard with 2 goals. Other players still active with 2 goals include; Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric, John Stones. These players quite honestly are a long shot.

GOLDEN BALL

1. Luka Modric is the man who has been my player of the tournament. A tireless worker at the heart of the Croatian midfield with Rakitic, Modric has been a true leader for his nation. He has covered the most distance at the tournament so far, 63 Km. He is also among the highest scoring players for his nation at the competition thus far. 2 goals and an assist from midfield including a fierce strike against Argentina in the group stages have been some of his highlights. Modric isn't the loudest player on his team but he clearly has one of if not the loudest heart on the pitch and would no doubt be the main man for Croatia on Sunday.
2. Antoine Griezmann has arguably been France's best player at the competition. Others might argue Mbappe has been the star man for the French but Griezmann has been at the heart of everything the French team has done. He is their top scoring player together with Mbappe with 3 goals each. He has set up 2 goals as well, including Umtiti's lone goal against Belgium in the semi finals. If Les Blues end up winning on Sunday, Griezmann would most certainly be at the thick of it.
3. 19 year old Kylian Mbappe is definitely the best young player of the tournament. His blistering pace has been a headache for all defenders he has met, winning a few penalties for Les Blues on their way to the final. With 3 goals to his name and the threat he still poses in the final, Mbappe is a name that would definitely be mentioned in the discussion for player of the tournament.
4. "Sir" Eden Hazard as one of my closest friends affectionately calls him has been a fine leader as well. Leading Belgium to the semi finals with 2 goals and 2 assists Hazard has played some fine football. Winning the man of the match on several occasions. He has been simply amazing and I still tip him to win the golden ball. Against France when everyone else seemed to have accepted defeat, Hazard fought on. It wouldn't be the strangest thing if he won the golden ball.
5. Harry Kane is another player with a chance even though a slim one, of winning the golden ball award. He was been England's main man and guided them to the semi finals. A lot of other players might be mentioned but I think these will be the main players discussed.

GOLDEN GLOVE

1. Chelsea shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois, a man who has made the second most saves (22) at the competition has been ever present for Belgium. He has a remarkable shot save percentage of 79% to boast of.
2. Kasper Schmeichel, son of Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has really made a name for himself at the world cup with rumors of many top clubs wanting to snatch him from Leicester City. An admirable 21 saves from 4 matches played including a penalty save against Luka Modric in the dying moments of extra time in the round of 16 tie between Denmark and Croatia. Kasper has an outstanding 91% shot save rate, the best in the competition and with his penalty heroics, Kasper is definitely a top contender for golden glove and my personal favorite.
3. Jordan Pickford, Hugo Lloris, Danijel Subasic, Igor Akinfeev, Guillermo Ochoa have all done marvelously at the world cup and would give the selection committee in charge a difficult decision to make.

Best Young Player without a doubt would go to Kylian Mbappe. A lot of youngsters impressed at this football showpiece and I will post an article on the best youngsters at the competition soon.

My team of the tournament with 4-2-3-1 formation will be: 

Schmeichel; Trippier, Varane, Granqvist, Vertoghen ; Modric, Cheryshev; Hazard, Griezmann, Mbappe; Kane

Let me know your thoughts