Spain’s Rodri scripts history, joins football’s most exclusive club after World Cup glory | Football News

Spain’s Rodri celebrates with the tournament’s best player award after (AP/PTI)

Spain midfielder Rodri has etched his name alongside some of football’s greatest legends after completing one of the sport’s rarest collections of honours following La Roja’s FIFA World Cup 2026 triumph.With Spain defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final, Rodri became just the fourth men’s player in history to win the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d’Or, joining an exclusive group featuring Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer and Zinedine Zidane.The 30-year-old capped a remarkable tournament by also claiming the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, awarded to the competition’s best player, after serving as the heartbeat of Spain’s unbeaten title-winning campaign.Already a UEFA Euro champion and Ballon d’Or winner after his stellar 2024 season, Rodri added another major milestone to his glittering career as Spain secured only their second World Cup crown.The midfielder was instrumental throughout the tournament, featuring in all eight matches and setting the tempo from the centre of the pitch. He completed more passes, covered more distance and recorded more player involvements than any other player at the tournament, underlining his influence at both ends of the field.Rodri also rewrote the record books with 756 completed passes, the highest tally by any player at a single FIFA World Cup over the past 60 years. The previous best in that period was his own mark of 638 passes from the 2022 tournament, while Spain defender Pau Cubarsí finished second on the 2026 list with 671. Aymeric Laporte (616 in 2026) and Xavi (596 in 2010) complete the top five.His vision proved equally decisive. Rodri delivered 122 line-breaking passes during the tournament, the most by any player since fellow Spaniard Xabi Alonso produced 126 at the 2010 World Cup.The final against Argentina highlighted exactly why Rodri was named Player of the Tournament. He completed 101 of his 105 passes, won 80 per cent of his duels and created two chances as Spain controlled large spells of the contest before Ferran Torres scored the winner in extra time.Rodri’s work without the ball was just as valuable. His intelligent positioning and defensive support helped Spain concede only one goal across eight matches, the fewest by a World Cup-winning team.The World Cup Golden Ball added another prestigious individual honour to Rodri’s collection, having also been named the best player at UEFA Euro 2024 before winning the Ballon d’Or later that year.Spain also dominated the tournament’s individual awards. Pau Cubarsí was named Young Player of the Tournament, while goalkeeper Unai Simón claimed the Golden Glove after keeping seven clean sheets during La Roja’s victorious campaign.With the World Cup now added to his résumé, Rodri has cemented his place among football’s all-time great midfielders, joining an elite list of players whose achievements span both the biggest team trophies and the sport’s highest individual honours.