The Rodri Award... Deserved or Controversial?

FIFA awarded Spain’s Rodri the Best Player award at the 2026 World Cup, following his contribution to his national team’s title triumph after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final.

There is no dispute over Rodri’s technical quality; he is a genuine captain and the metronome of the midfield, regarded as one of the world’s top players in his position. However, the question remains: did the most influential player of the tournament truly deserve the Best Player award?

Looking at the numbers, Sofascore ranked Lionel Messi as the highest-rated player during the tournament, followed by Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland, and Jude Bellingham, while Rodri did not appear in the top five.

In terms of attacking contributions, Rodri scored no goals and provided no assists throughout the tournament, and he won the Man of the Match award only once, against Portugal. In contrast, Messi received the award five times and led Argentina to the final, while Mbappé topped the tournament’s scoring charts with 10 goals.

This does not diminish Rodri’s value, but awards of the stature of “Best Player at the World Cup” are typically associated with the player who had the most decisive and impactful influence on the tournament, whether through goals, assists, or exceptional performances in key matches.

Therefore, the debate remains valid: did Rodri deserve the award thanks to his tactical influence and leadership in guiding Spain to the title?