Rodri named Golden Ball winner at World Cup 2026
Rodri’s Golden Ball win sparks debate
Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder, was awarded the World Cup Golden Ball for the best player of the World Cup 2026. This recognition followed his role in leading Spain to their second World Cup victory. His individual performance was also acknowledged two years prior when he was central to Spain‘s European Championship success. The decision to name Rodri as the tournament’s best player has generated considerable discussion, similar to the debates surrounding his Ballon d’Or win in 2024.
The midfielder’s win saw him surpass notable players such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham, all of whom had strong tournaments. According to one report, Sky Sports’ Power Rankings listed Messi, Mbappe, and Bellingham as the top three performers of the World Cup 2026, in that specific order. Rodri, by contrast, was ranked 18th in these rankings. Furthermore, his overall tournament rating indicated he was only the seventh-best Spanish player.
Despite his lower ranking in some metrics, Rodri‘s involvement on the ball was unparalleled, as he topped the charts for touches. He also demonstrated significant contributions at both ends of the pitch. Offensively, he ranked second in final third passes and 15th in chances created. Defensively, he made the most tackles in the tournament and was among the top four for possessions won in both the attacking and middle thirds. Beyond statistics, his leadership was highlighted as a crucial factor for the young Spanish squad.
However, an analysis of 43 key statistics showed Rodri finished in the top 10 in 13 of them, which is more than Bellingham‘s 12. In comparison, both Messi and Mbappe achieved 18 top 10 finishes in these same statistics. Messi also registered the best individual performance of the tournament, according to the rankings, with a hat-trick in Argentina‘s opening match against Algeria. While Rodri was a top performer, data suggests he did not excel to the same degree as Messi and Mbappe, leading to arguments that the award might have gone to the best player from the winning team rather than the actual best individual player.
Other Spanish award recipients
Pau Cubarsi, a 19-year-old defender, was named the Best Young Player of the tournament. He played every minute of Spain‘s campaign, forming a strong central defensive partnership with Aymeric Laporte. Spain conceded only one goal throughout the tournament, which occurred in the quarter-finals against Belgium. Cubarsi‘s performance included leading all players aged 21 or under in passes, clearances, and possessions won across all thirds of the pitch. He also ranked among the top four for final third passes, a notable achievement for a defender.
Cubarsi‘s appearance in the final made him the fourth youngest player to participate in a World Cup final, at 19 years and 178 days. His teammate, Lamine Yamal, who featured at 19 years and six days, was the third youngest. Unai Simon, Spain‘s goalkeeper, received the Golden Glove award. He recorded seven clean sheets in eight games, a key factor in his high ranking within the power rankings. Despite making only 10 saves throughout the tournament, his ability to outperform his expected goals conceded by a margin of 1.7 was significant. Simon also led all goalkeepers in sweeper regains with 11 and had a final passing accuracy of 77.87 per cent.
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Source: skysports.com
