Spaniard Rodri beat Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé to be named the best player of the World Cup by FIFA | Football news

Spain’s Rodri celebrates with the man of the tournament award after the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Rodri was named the Adidas Ballon d’Or winner after leading Spain to the 2026 FIFA World Cup title, capping a dominant tournament with another controlling performance in midfield as La Roja beat defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final.The Manchester City midfielder edged out Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham to win the tournament’s top individual honor, with FIFA recognizing the player who cemented Spain’s unbeaten run across North America.Mbappé finished as the Golden Boot winner with 10 goals, breaking Messi’s all-time World Cup record, while Messi led Argentina to the final with eight goals and four assists. However, Rodri’s consistency and control of the Spanish midfield earned him the player of the tournament award.

Rodri dictated the finish from midfield

The final was billed as a clash of the generations, with 39-year-old Lionel Messi and 19-year-old Lamine Yamala in what was expected to be a defining clash between football’s past and future. Instead, it was Rodri who emerged as the figure who shaped the biggest game of the tournament.Spain controlled possession throughout and successfully disrupted Argentina’s attacking rhythm, with Lionel Scaloni’s side struggling to create meaningful chances as passing lanes were closed and their forwards forced deeper into the pitch. Argentina failed to hit the back of the net in regulation time, a reflection of Spain’s tactical control and their ability to dictate the tempo of the final.At the heart of it all was Rodri, whose composition, positioning and understanding of the game enabled Spain to dominate the midfield battle and maintain control when the pressure of a World Cup final required it most.

Spain’s Rodri (16) lifts the trophy after winning the soccer World Cup final against Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Before being substituted in the 99th minute, he produced one of the key performances in the middle of the tournament.He finished with 116 touches, completed 101 of 106 passes (95 per cent), completed 16 final-term score passes and completed eight of nine long balls. In defense, he won four attacks and eight of the 10 duels in the country.Spain eventually broke through in extra time to secure a 1-0 victory and their second World Cup title.

Neutralizing Messi proved crucial

Rodri’s impact went far beyond the stats, with his role at the core of Spain’s midfield helping prevent Argentina from building around Lionel Messi.The Manchester City midfielder read the game superbly, closing down passing lanes and limiting the space available to Rodrigo De Paulo and Alexis Mac Allister, who struggled to find spaces in midfield.Messi, aiming to retain both the World Cup and Ballon d’Or he won in Qatar, was uncharacteristically quiet, managing just 29 touches by the time Rodri left the pitch.

Rodri produced one of the standout midfield performances of the tournament, combining defensive discipline with the ability to set Spain’s attacking rhythm.Spain conceded just one goal at the World Cup and Rodri was instrumental in their control of games through his passing, positioning and ability to break up attacks.He completed 694 passes, setting a new World Cup record for a single tournament and surpassing his previous mark of 638 from Qatar 2022.

Victorious football’s biggest individual award

Rodrigo’s Golden Ball arrived despite strong competition.Messi scored 12 goals (eight goals, four assists) in Argentina’s performance in the final. Mbappé scored 10 goals, became the World Cup’s all-time top scorer with 22 and won the Golden Boot. Jude Bellingham also impressed as England finished third.FIFA ended up rewarding the player whose impact was beyond the goals.Rodri controlled games, protected the Spanish defense and dictated possession, delivering another flawless performance in the final.With Spain crowned world champions after beating Argentina in extra time, Rodri completed a historic campaign by winning the Ballon d’Or as the best player at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.