Carli Lloyd wins Golden Ball Award as Women's World Cup's best player

After leading the United States to a win over Japan in the Women's World Cup final, American midfielder Carli Lloyd won the Golden Ball Award as the tournament's top player.

After leading the United States to a win over Japan in the Women's World Cup final, American midfielder Carli Lloyd won the Golden Ball Award as the tournament's top player. 

It took just 16 minutes for Lloyd to score the fastest hat trick in Women's World Cup history. Lloyd's treble and Lauren Holiday's volley put the Japanese in a 4–0 hole that they couldn't get out of. 

Lloyd scored a total of six goals in seven games, tied with Germany's Celia Sasic for the tournament lead. 

Lloyd played every minute of every U.S game in the tournament. 

​• Watch: Carli Lloyd scores hat trick 16 minutes into World Cup final

.@CarliLloyd 6 goals, 1 assist and one amazing World Cup. Your Golden Ball Winner for best player at the @FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/14b8MLuNbu

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 6, 2015

- Dan Gartland