FIFA World Cup awards: Did Rodri deserve Golden Ball over Messi?

Spain captain Rodri was named the winner of the Golden Ball after leading La Roja to the 2026 FIFA World Cup title, but the decision has already divided opinion. While the Manchester City midfielder capped off Spain's triumph with the tournament's top individual honour, many believed Lionel Messi's performances for Argentina deserved the award instead.Spain's 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina in the final saw Luis de la Fuente's side sweep the major individual honours. Rodri won the Golden Ball, Unai Simon claimed the Golden Glove after a tournament full of clean sheets, while teenage defender Pau Cubarsi was named the Young Player of the Tournament.Spain vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup final: HIGHLIGHTSMessi, meanwhile, had to settle for the Silver Ball after another outstanding World Cup campaign. The Argentina captain finished with eight goals and four assists, guided the defending champions to a second successive final and collected a record-extending five Player of the Match awards during the tournament. France captain Kylian Mbappe claimed the Golden Boot with 10 goals despite Les Bleus falling short in the semi-finals, while Messi also received the Silver Boot after finishing as the tournament's second-highest scorer.The biggest talking point, however, remained the Golden Ball. As Rodri walked up to collect the trophy, chants of "Messi" echoed around the stadium, reflecting the debate over whether FIFA had picked the right player.DID RODRI DESERVE GOLDEN BALL OR MESSI ROBBED? There is a strong argument for both players.Messi was once again Argentina's driving force. At 39, he finished with eight goals and four assists, directly influencing much of Argentina's attacking play on their run to the final. His five official Player of the Match awards equalled the record he had already set during the 2022 World Cup, underlining how often he delivered in decisive moments.Rodri's case was built very differently.The Spanish captain did not finish with headline-making numbers, but he was the player around whom Spain's game revolved. He started all eight matches, rarely gave away possession and dictated the rhythm as Spain controlled opponents through midfield. It was another reminder of why he has become one of the most influential midfielders in world football despite rarely dominating highlight reels.There are reasons why some supporters questioned FIFA's decision. Rodri received only one official Player of the Match award during the tournament and was substituted in the final before Ferran Torres scored the winner in extra time. Messi, meanwhile, remained Argentina's biggest attacking threat throughout the tournament and produced several match-winning displays.Ultimately, FIFA's Technical Study Group valued Rodri's influence over Spain's title-winning campaign above Messi's attacking output. It is a decision that will continue to split opinion, but one that reflects football's long-running debate over whether the game's best player is always the one who scores and creates the most.FIFA WORLD CUP AWARDS: FULL LISTGolden Ball: Rodri (Spain)Silver Ball: Lionel Messi (Argentina)Golden Boot: Kylian Mbappe (France) – 10 goalsSilver Boot: Lionel Messi (Argentina)Golden Glove: Unai Simon (Spain)Young Player Award: Pau Cubarsi (Spain) Spain dominated the FIFA World Cup 2026 awards. (Photo: Reuters) While Rodri's Golden Ball remains the most debated decision of the tournament, there was little argument over Spain's overall dominance. Three of the four major individual awards went to players from the newly crowned world champions, underlining just how complete Luis de la Fuente's side had been throughout the competition. Messi may have missed out on football's biggest individual honour at the World Cup, but another Silver Ball, five Player of the Match awards and a place in yet another final ensured his farewell campaign on the grandest stage will be remembered as one of the tournament's defining stories.FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | Football News - EndsPublished By: Debodinna ChakrabortyPublished On: Jul 20, 2026 05:29 IST