Spain defender Marc Cucurella lavished praise on captain Rodri after the midfielder was awarded the Golden Ball for his outstanding performances during Spain’s triumphant FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign.Rodri played a pivotal role in Spain’s march to their second World Cup title, dictating the tempo from midfield and serving as the heartbeat of Luis de la Fuente’s side. While he did not register a goal or an assist, the Manchester City star’s influence was evident in every match as he controlled possession, orchestrated attacks and shielded Spain’s defence throughout the tournament.Backing his captain’s Golden Ball triumph, Cucurella highlighted Rodri’s invaluable contribution beyond goals and assists.“For us it’s very important. I think sometimes it’s not just about scoring or assisting. He controlled everything, he organised the team. He decides when we press, he decides when we attack and for us it’s very important. Every time we are under pressure, he gives us a chance because we can give him the ball and he never loses it. I think he deserves this trophy because he played an amazing tournament,” Cucurella said during the post-match presentation.
Rodri’s Golden Ball-winning World Cup campaign
Rodri beat attacking superstars such as Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi to claim the tournament’s Best Player award, underlining the impact of his midfield mastery rather than goal contributions.
| Statistic | Rodri’s FIFA World Cup 2026 |
|---|---|
| Goals / Assists | 0 Goals / 0 Assists |
| Chances Created | 10 |
| Goals Conceded (Spain) | 1 |
| Clean Sheets | 7 in 8 matches |
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final to end a 16-year wait for the title and lift their second World Cup trophy. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the match-winning goal in the 106th minute after Spain dominated possession and created the majority of the chances throughout the contest.Argentina survived largely due to Emiliano Martínez’s record 11 saves but suffered a major setback when Enzo Fernández was sent off in stoppage time. Despite a late surge, Lionel Scaloni’s side failed to find an equaliser.The victory saw Spain become two-time world champions, set a World Cup record by conceding just one goal throughout the tournament.
