Manchester City midfielder leads Spain’s dominant campaign as Unai Simón and Pau Cubarsí also claim major FIFA World Cup awards

Spain midfielder Rodri was named the winner of the Rodri Golden Ball on Sunday after guiding La Roja to the 2026 FIFA World Cup title, completing a memorable tournament with the competition’s highest individual honour.

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The Manchester City midfielder received the Golden Ball after Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup final at the New York New Jersey Stadium, with substitute Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal to secure the nation’s second world title, 16 years after its maiden triumph in South Africa.

Rodri was at the heart of Spain’s successful campaign, dictating the tempo of matches with his calmness in possession, tactical intelligence and leadership as Luis de la Fuente’s side completed an unbeaten run to the trophy.

The 30-year-old’s performances throughout the tournament reinforced his reputation as one of football’s most influential midfielders, adding another prestigious accolade to a career already decorated with domestic, European and international success.

The Golden Ball further enhances an impressive honours list that includes the Ballon d’Or, the UEFA Champions League, four Premier League titles, the UEFA European Championship and now the FIFA World Cup.

Speaking after receiving the award, Rodri dedicated the honour to his teammates, describing the victory as a collective achievement.

“This award belongs to the whole team. We worked for each other from the first day of the tournament, and winning the World Cup together is the greatest reward,” he said.

Spain’s dominance at the tournament was further reflected in the distribution of FIFA’s individual awards, with two other members of De la Fuente’s squad also receiving top honours.

Goalkeeper Unai Simón collected the Golden Glove after an exceptional tournament in which he kept seven clean sheets and conceded only one goal.

The Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper produced several decisive saves during the knockout rounds, providing the defensive foundation for Spain’s march to the title.

Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí was named the Young Player of the Tournament after a series of composed displays that belied his age.

At just 19, the central defender emerged as one of the competition’s standout performers, earning widespread praise for his maturity, positional awareness and consistency against some of the world’s best attacking players.

The trio’s success highlighted Spain’s complete control of the tournament, with the national team combining disciplined defending, midfield authority and clinical attacking play to reclaim football’s biggest prize.

Spain’s World Cup victory also marked another milestone in the country’s football resurgence under De la Fuente, following the UEFA European Championship triumph in 2024.

The blend of experienced figures such as Rodri with emerging talents including Cubarsí and Lamine Yamal has established La Roja as one of the strongest national teams in world football.

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For Rodri, the historic Golden Ball represents fitting recognition of a tournament in which he consistently dictated games from midfield and provided the platform for Spain’s return to the summit of international football, cementing his legacy as one of the defining players of his generation.