As far as team prizes go, the World Cup is perhaps the greatest trophy an athlete can hoist. Few, if any, trophies carry as much weight as the golden ball held up by outstretched arms.
If the World Cup is the most sought-after ornament an athlete can seek out, then the Golden Ball, awarded to the World Cup’s best performer, is perhaps the sport’s finest individual achievement. Some of the greatest footballers to appear in the tournament haven’t captured the hardware, from Ronaldinho to Cristiano Ronaldo.
So, who took home the title in 2026? There were a host of deserving candidates, from England’s Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane to France star Kylian Mbappe. There were also some enticing finalists competing in Sunday’s final, including Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Spain’s Rodri.
With that, here’s what you need to know about this year’s Golden Ball winner.
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Why Rodri won Golden Ball award?
Messi seemed the likeliest candidate to take home the Golden Ball given his glistening displays throughout Argentina’s run to the championship game. The famed playmaker tallied eight goals and four assists in 12 contests, staking a claim for the title of world’s best player at the tender age of 39.
In the final, though, he was ghost-quiet. The two-time Golden Ball talent struggled to impact the game as La Albiceleste ceded possession to Spain. The Spaniards were on the front foot for much of the opening 90 minutes, with Argentina failing to record a shot until deep in extra time.
Rodri, meanwhile, anchored La Roja’s midfield, a unit that proved the world’s best at dictating tempo. The Manchester City star wasn’t the flashiest of talents. But as was the case in Spain’s run to the 2024 European Championship, he was perhaps the most important, offering a steady outlet to distribute the ball on one end while mopping up stray passes and deflections on the other.
All that amounted to Rodri hoisting the Golden Ball, joining the likes of Luka Modric, Zinedine Zidane and Oliver Kahn as non-attackers to receive the recognition. It’s hard to say it wasn’t richly deserved, even if he didn’t have the attacking stats compared to Messi or Mbappe.
Rodri vs. Lionel Messi World Cup stats
| Rodri | Lionel Messi | |
| 8 | Games | 8 |
| 0 | Goals | 8 |
| 0 | Assists | 4 |
Messi’s stats would suggest that he, not Rodri, was deserving of the title of the World Cup’s best performer. Stats can be especially deceiving in soccer, though. While Messi was brilliant, Rodri was a superstar in his role, spearheading perhaps the most effective aspect of the most effective team across the tournament. In wins against Portugal, France and Argentina, Rodri was immense, shepherding the load as a ball distributor while showcasing the guile to win the ball back from some of the world’s most devastating attackers.
Messi had the attacking numbers. But it’s hard to argue there was a better midfielder in this year’s World Cup than the Manchester City man.
World Cup Golden Ball winners
| Year | Player | Country |
| 2026 | Rodri | Spain |
| 2022 | Lionel Messi | Argentina |
| 2018 | Luka Modric | Croatia |
| 2014 | Lionel Messi | Argentina |
| 2010 | Diego Forlan | Uruguay |
| 2006 | Zinedine Zidane | France |
| 2002 | Oliver Kahn | Germany |
| 1998 | Ronaldo | Brazil |
| 1994 | Romario | Brazil |
| 1990 | Salvatore Schillaci | Italy |
| 1986 | Diego Maradona | Argentina |
| 1982 | Paolo Rossi | Italy |
| 1978 | Mario Kempes | Argentina |
