Rodri wins Golden Ball as Spain dominate World Cup awards
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The award adds to an already glittering career for the 30-year-old, who has won the Ballon d'Or, the UEFA Champions League, four Premier League titles, the European Championship and now the FIFA World Cup, further cementing his place among the finest midfielders of his generation.
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Spain midfielder Rodri was crowned the Player of the Tournament after inspiring his country to the 2026 FIFA World Cup title, capping a remarkable campaign with another prestigious individual honour.
The Manchester City star received the Golden Ball following Spain’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the World Cup final, where Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal to hand La Roja their second world title.
Rodri, widely regarded as the heartbeat of the Spanish team, controlled matches throughout the tournament with his composure, vision and leadership, playing a pivotal role in Spain’s unbeaten run to the trophy.
The award adds to an already glittering career for the 30-year-old, who has won the Ballon d’Or, the UEFA Champions League, four Premier League titles, the European Championship and now the FIFA World Cup, further cementing his place among the finest midfielders of his generation.
Spain also swept two other major individual awards at the tournament.
Goalkeeper Unai Simón claimed the Golden Glove after an outstanding campaign between the posts. The Athletic Bilbao shot-stopper kept seven clean sheets and conceded just one goal throughout the tournament, producing a series of crucial saves that underpinned Spain’s march to the title.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Pau Cubarsí was named the Young Player of the Tournament following a series of composed and commanding performances in defence. The Barcelona centre-back emerged as one of the breakout stars of the competition, earning widespread praise for his maturity, confidence and consistency despite his age.
Spain’s clean sweep of the tournament’s top individual honours underlined the country’s dominance at the 2026 World Cup, where Luis de la Fuente’s side combined defensive solidity with attacking quality to reclaim football’s biggest prize.
The triumph marked Spain’s second FIFA World Cup title, 16 years after their historic success in South Africa in 2010, while Rodri’s Golden Ball served as fitting recognition of a tournament in which he was the driving force behind the new world champions.
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