Spain’s Rodri is making history, joining football’s most exclusive club after World Cup glory
Spain’s Rodri celebrates being awarded the best player of the tournament after (AP/PTI) Spain midfielder Rodri etched his name alongside some of football’s biggest legends after La Roja triumphed at the 2026 World Cup after completing one of the sport’s rarest collections of honours.When Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final, Rodri became only the fourth male player in history to win the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, UEFA Champions League and Ballon d’Or, joining an exclusive group that included Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer and Zinedine Zidane.The 30-year-old capped a remarkable tournament by winning the FIFA World Cup Ballon d’Or, awarded to the competition’s best player, after serving as the heart of Spain’s unbeaten title-winning campaign.Already a UEFA Euro champion and Ballon d’Or winner after his stellar 2024 season, Rodri added another major milestone to his glittering career as Spain claimed just their second World Cup crown.The midfielder played a vital role throughout the tournament, playing in all eight matches and setting the pace from midfield. He completed more passes, covered more distance and recorded more player involvements than any other player in the tournament, underscoring his impact at both ends of the pitch.Rodri also rewrote the record books with 756 completed passes, the most by any player in a single FIFA World Cup in the last 60 years. The previous best in that period was his own mark of 638 passes from the 2022 tournament, while Spanish defender Pau Cubarsí finished second on the 2026 list with 671. The top five are completed by Aymeric Laporte (616 in 2026) and Xavi (596 in 2010).His vision proved equally decisive. Rodri made 122 through-the-ball passes during the tournament, the most by any player since fellow Spaniard Xabi Alonso produced 126 at the 2010 World Cup.The final against Argentina highlighted exactly why Rodri was named player of the tournament. He completed 101 of 105 passes, won 80 per cent of his duels and created two chances as Spain controlled large spells of the match before Ferran Torres scored the winner in extra time.Equally valuable was Rodri’s work without the ball. His intelligent positioning and defensive support helped Spain concede just one goal in eight games, the fewest by a World Cup-winning side.The World Cup Ballon d’Or added another prestigious individual accolade to Rodri’s collection as he was also named UEFA Euro 2024 Player of the Year before winning the Ballon d’Or later that year.Spain also dominated the individual awards of the tournament. Pau Cubarsí was named Young Player of the Tournament, while goalkeeper Unai Simón won the Golden Glove after keeping seven clean sheets during La Roja’s winning streak.With a World Cup now added to his CV, Rodri has cemented his place among football’s greatest midfielders of all time, joining an elite list of players whose achievements include both the biggest team trophies and the sport’s highest individual honours.
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