Rodri described Spain’s World Cup triumph and his Golden Ball award as “the perfect script” after completing football’s greatest collection of honours with victory over Argentina.
Rodri described Spain’s World Cup triumph as “the perfect script” after helping La Roja defeat Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final before being crowned the tournament’s best player with the prestigious Golden Ball award.
The Manchester City midfielder capped an extraordinary comeback story by lifting the biggest prize in football less than two years after suffering a serious knee ligament injury that threatened to derail his career. His return to the top has now become one of the defining stories of the tournament.
By winning the World Cup, Rodri completed one of the rarest achievements in football history. He joined legends Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller and Zinedine Zidane as one of the few players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA European Championship, the UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d’Or during their career.
Players who have won Euro, World Cup, European Cup, and Ballon D’Or :
🇩🇪 Gerd Muller
🇩🇪 Franz Beckenbauer
🇫🇷 Zinedine Zidane
🇪🇸 RodriElite Company 💫 pic.twitter.com/Vu1CexDCu5
— Il Genio (@FritzGschweidl) July 19, 2026
Speaking after receiving the Golden Ball, Rodri admitted the achievement exceeded even his own expectations. The 30-year-old said he hopes his journey from devastating injury back to the summit of world football can inspire younger players facing difficult moments in their careers.
“I’d love the younger generations to see that a player who reaches the top, then falls into the darkest moments, can come back again,” Rodri said. “It’s a lesson in overcoming adversity. I never imagined everything would happen like this.”
Despite collecting the tournament’s biggest individual honour, Rodri was quick to shift the focus towards Spain’s collective strength. He praised his teammates for remaining patient against a stubborn Argentina side before Ferran Torres eventually scored the decisive goal during extra time to secure a famous 1-0 victory.
Rodri wins the World Cup Golden Ball.
Best. Player. In. The. Tournament. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/KxZkz9cdJs
— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 19, 2026
According to Rodri, unity has become Spain’s greatest weapon. He credited the squad’s togetherness, courage and relentless belief as the foundation of their success, insisting those qualities carried them through what he described as the toughest World Cup ever contested.
Reflecting on the final, Rodri acknowledged Argentina’s quality and praised Lionel Messi as the greatest player in football history. However, he maintained Spain deserved their victory after controlling much of the contest, believing their consistency throughout the tournament ultimately earned them a second FIFA World Cup title.
World Cup 🏆
European Championship 🏆
Nations League 🏆
Club World Cup 🏆
Champions League 🏆
Super Cup 🏆🏆
Premier League 🏆🏆🏆🏆
FA Cup 🏆🏆
EFL Cup 🏆🏆🏆
Community Shield 🏆
Ballon d’Or 🏅Rodri.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 19, 2026
