Rodri Hernández just added the FIFA Golden Ball to a trophy cabinet that already includes the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Spain’s captain was named Best Player of the Tournament after orchestrating his side’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final on July 19.
The performance that moved markets
Rodri’s tournament statistics read like a midfield masterclass. He led all players in total touches with 794, completed 655 passes, and delivered 106 line-breaking passes, the highest figure in the tournament. Line-breaking passes are the ones that slice through defensive lines and create attacking opportunities.
Rodri suffered a significant ACL injury in 2024, the kind of setback that has ended careers. Instead, he came back to captain Spain to a World Cup title, beating Argentina in a final that required extra time to separate the two sides.
He wasn’t the only Spaniard collecting hardware. Pau Cubarsí took home the Best Young Player award, while goalkeeper Unai Simón was named the tournament’s best shot-stopper.
