Who was named the Golden Ball winner at the 1986 FIFA World Cup?
Answer
Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona was named the Golden Ball winner at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
Maradona captained Argentina in Mexico and was the tournament’s most influential player. He scored five goals and supplied five assists, helping Argentina defeat West Germany 3–2 in the final at the Estadio Azteca.
His most famous performance came in the quarter-final against England. Maradona scored twice in a 2–1 victory, producing both the controversial Hand of God goal and a celebrated solo run often called the Goal of the Century.
The Golden Ball recognizes the best overall player at the tournament. England’s Gary Lineker won the Golden Boot as top scorer in 1986, with six goals, but that is a separate award.