FIFA World Cup Awards: Did Rodri Deserve Ballon d’Or ahead of Lionel Messi?

ByTech Word News

Spain captain Rodri was named the Ballon d’Or winner after leading La Roja to the 2026 FIFA World Cup title, but the decision has already divided opinion. While the Manchester City midfielder capped Spain’s triumph with the tournament’s top individual honour, many believed Lionel Messi’s performances for Argentina deserved the accolade.

Spain won 1-0 over Argentina in extra time in the final, Luis de la Fuente saw the side sweep the major individual honours. Rodri won the Ballon d’Or, Unai Simon won the Golden Glove after a tournament full of clean sheets, while teenage defender Pau Cubarsi was named Young Player of the Tournament.

Spain vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup Final: HIGHLIGHTS

Messi, meanwhile, had to settle for the Ballon d’Or after another outstanding World Cup campaign. The Argentina captain finished with eight goals and four assists to lead the defending champions to their second straight final and collected a record five Player of the Match awards during the tournament.

France captain Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot with 10 goals despite Les Bleus falling short in the semi-finals, while Messi also received the Silver Boot after finishing as the tournament’s second top scorer.

However, the biggest talking point remained the Ballon d’Or. Chants of “Messi” echoed through the stadium as Rodri went to collect the trophy, reflecting the debate over whether FIFA had selected the right player.

DID RODRI DESERVE THE GOLDEN BALL OR WAS MESSI ROBBED?

There is a strong case for both players.

Messi was again the driving force of Argentina. At 39, he finished with eight goals and four assists, directly influencing much of Argentina’s attacking play en route to the final. His five official Player of the Match awards equaled the record he already set during the 2022 World Cup, underscoring how often he lost at crucial moments.

Rodri’s case was built quite differently.

The Spain captain didn’t end up with headline numbers, but he was the player around whom Spain’s game revolved. He started all eight matches, rarely giving away possession and dictating the rhythm as Spain dominated the opposition through midfield. It was yet another reminder of why he has become one of the most influential midfielders in world football, despite rarely dominating starting roles.

There are reasons why some supporters questioned FIFA’s decision. Rodri received only one official Man of the Match award during the tournament and was substituted in the final before Ferran Torres scored the winner in extra time. Messi, meanwhile, remained Argentina’s biggest attacking threat throughout the tournament, producing several match-winning performances.

FIFA’s technical study group ultimately praised Rodri’s influence on Spain’s title-winning campaign over Messi’s attacking prowess. It’s a decision that will continue to divide opinion, but reflects football’s long-running debate over whether the best player in the game is always the one who scores and creates the most.

FIFA WORLD CUP AWARDS: THE COMPLETE LIST

  • Golden Ball: Rodri (Spain)
  • Silver Ball: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
  • Golden Boot: Kylian Mbappe (France) – 10 goals
  • Silver Boot: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
  • Golden Glove: Unai Simon (Spain)
  • Young Player Award: Pau Cubarsi (Spain)

Spain dominated the FIFA World Cup 2026 awards. (Photo: Reuters)

While Rodri’s Ballon d’Or remains the most debated decision of the tournament, Spain’s overall dominance has not been debated. Three of the four major individual awards went to players from the newly crowned world champions, underlining how complete Luis de la Fuente’s side were throughout the competition. Messi may have missed out on football’s greatest individual honor at the World Cup, but another Ballon d’Or, five man-of-the-match awards and a place in yet another final ensured his farewell campaign on the grandest stage will be remembered as one of the tournament’s defining stories.

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Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

20 Jul 2026 05:29 IST