Spain captain Rodri says he was caught off guard after being crowned the best player of the 2026 FIFA World Cup following Spain’s dramatic victory to secure their second world cup title.

The 30-year old Manchester City midfielder was the pillar of Luis de la Fuente’s squad, anchoring a defensive masterclass that saw Spain concede just a single goal across eight matches. 

The tournament reached its peak with a tense 1-0 final victory over Argentina, shattering the defending champions' hopes of back-to-back titles.

Rodri dominated the tournament stats, leading all players in both completed passes and total touches. 

Yet, edging out Lionel Messi for the Golden Ball still felt surreal to the midfield maestro.

Reflecting on his journey, Rodri opened up about what the milestone meant to him personally:

"It feels like the perfect script. I certainly didn’t expect this. 

I’d love for the younger generations to see that a player who touches the heavens, then descends into hell, can come back. It’s a lesson in overcoming adversity."