Rodri

Rodri won the Golden Ball as the 2026 World Cup's outstanding player, one of a set of individual honours, Golden Ball, Golden Glove and Young Player, that went to a holding midfielder, a goalkeeper and a defender rather than an attacker. The award sits alongside Spain's tournament defensive record: just one goal conceded in eight matches, fewer than any previous champion.

Spain's champions, Rodri among them, were received by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at the Palacio de la Zarzuela on 20 July. The same week, FIFA opened a disciplinary file covering, among other incidents, a blow from Argentina's Nahuel Molina on Rodri during the post-final scenes; no charge has been laid.

Rodri is contracted to Manchester City until the summer of 2027 and is recovering from back surgery. David Ornstein reported on 24 July that Real Madrid are "operating on the basis" he joins this summer, after a meeting with his representatives, though no club-to-club talks have opened, no fee is agreed and no personal terms exist; Manchester City do not want to sell and have been working to extend his contract, and manager Enzo Maresca said Rodri will rejoin the squad once he has recovered.