Spain have won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the biggest contribution to that success came from the team’s midfield heartbeat, Rodri. Without the flash of a goal or an assist, he won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player in recognition of his outstanding play throughout. Many fans may wonder how he became the best without a goal or assist.
As a defensive midfielder, Rodri’s main job is not to add up goals but to keep control of the game in his own hands. The Manchester City star tied Spain’s midfield together throughout the tournament. In keeping possession, building the link from defence to attack, and breaking up opponents’ attacks before they began, Rodri was unrivalled. Spain’s defence conceded only one goal in the whole World Cup, and Rodri’s defensive skill played the biggest part in that.
The proof of Rodri’s excellence is in the statistics. In the tournament’s 8 matches he completed more than 650 passes. His range of running and his number of high-speed runs on the pitch stood apart from everyone else. Rodri was the core of Spain coach Luis de la Fuente’s tactical plan, an unshakeable pillar in every attacking move and defensive stand.
Why did Rodri beat even Messi? Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who lost the final, scored 8 goals and made 4 assists but lost the Golden Ball race to Rodri. Surprising as this is to many, FIFA’s assessment criteria are different: FIFA does not choose the best on individual statistics or goals and assists alone. It gives the most weight to a player’s overall impact, contribution to the team, consistency and ability to control matches. The remarkable balance and team discipline Rodri maintained throughout the tournament placed him above all.
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