Rodri Named Best Player at 2026 World Cup After Leading Spain to Victory

Doha, Qatar Jul 20, 2026 ALN: Spain captain Rodri won the Golden Ball award for the best player at the 2026 World Cup on Sunday after leading his team to a 1-0 victory against Argentina.

The 30-year-old Manchester City midfielder, who won the Ballon d'Or for the world's best player in 2024, expressed that the team was "a bit shocked right now."

Rodri had faced a significant challenge earlier, having ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament while playing for City against Arsenal in September 2024. His competitive return came the following May.

"Even myself I cannot express with words," he said. "I think now we're like in a cloud."

Reflecting on his journey, he added, "It's been a very tough time. I just want the new generations to see my example as an opportunity -- when you go down you can rise again."

Rodri emphasized his philosophy of positivity, stating, "Of course, sometimes things go well, sometimes they go wrong. But always the positivity I said to the lads before the game -- we have to go for the game."

He urged his teammates to face their opponents boldly, saying, "We need to face them. We have to look to the eyes and see it. We won this game and then life gives you the World Cup or not. But we were brave and I was brave in that moment."

This victory not only marked a significant achievement for Rodri but also solidified Spain's position in the world of football.