Was Rodri really the player of the tournament?

Sky Sports analyzes the controversial decision to award Rodri the Golden Ball as best player of the 2026 World Cup, which Spain won. Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder, led Spain to their second World Cup title, two years after their European Championship victory. He beat Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham for the award, sparking debate similar to his 2024 Ballon d'Or win. Sky Sports' Power Rankings place Messi, Mbappe, and Bellingham as the top three performers, with Rodri ranked 18th overall and only the seventh-best Spanish player. The article notes Rodri topped the tournament for touches but questions whether his impact justified the award over more statistically dominant players.

First published Aug 4, 02:52 PM UTCUpdated Jul 20, 03:00 PM UTC1 reports · 1 sources

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Was Rodri really the player of the tournament?

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Was Rodri really the player of the tournament?SkySports | NewsWesternJul 20, 03:00 PM UTC

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Lionel Messi Kylian Mbappe Jude Bellingham Spain Manchester City