Uruguay's Diego Forlan has won the FIFA Golden Ball as the outstanding player at the World Cup.

The award signals a remarkable turnaround for the 31-year-old, derided as a comical figure during a frustrating spell at Manchester United between 2002 and 2004 when he struggled to find the net.

Now with Atletico Madrid, Forlan scored five goals at the World Cup, including a couple of stunners against South Africa and Germany, as Uruguay exceeded expectations to reach the semi-finals and then lose the third-place play-off 3-2 to Germany on Saturday night.

German star Thomas Muller picked up the Best Young Player award.

Spain captain Iker Casillas can add the Golden Glove award to his World Cup winners' medal and there was a further honour for the champions when they were landed with the Fair Play gong.

It was quite a consolation for Forlan to win the Golden Ball after missing out on a technicality to Muller for the Golden Shoe.

Both were joined by Spain's David Villa and Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder at the top of the standings in the race for the Golden Shoe.

However, when players finish level on goals, FIFA split the players on assists, meaning Germany's Thomas Muller took the award.

5 Thomas Muller (Germany), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Wesley Sneijder (Holland), David Villa (Spain).

4 Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Robert Vittek (Slovakia).

3 Landon Donovan (USA), Luis Fabiano (Brazil), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), Luis Suarez (Uruguay).

2 Elano (Brazil), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon),

Javier Hernandez (Mexico), Brett Holman (Australia), Keisuke Honda (Japan), Lee Chung-yong (South Korea), Lee Jung-soo (South Korea), Lukas Podolski (Germany),

Arjen Robben (Holland), Robinho (Brazil),

Carlos Tevez (Argentina), Tiago (Portugal),

Kalu Uche (Nigeria), Andres Iniesta (Spain).

1 73 players