Tebas Backs Barcelona’s Rodri for 2026 Ballon d’Or After World Cup Heroics
La Liga president Javier Tebas has backed Barcelona midfielder Rodri to collect the 2026 Ballon d’Or, arguing that his commanding World Cup campaign for Spain should outweigh an injury-hit club season.
Why Rodri’s World Cup case carries weight
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Player | Rodri |
| Club | Barcelona |
| International achievement | World Cup winner with Spain |
| Individual tournament award | World Cup Golden Ball |
| Previous Ballon d’Or | 2024 |
Rodri was central to Spain’s run to the 2026 World Cup title, controlling matches from midfield while offering protection behind the side’s attacking players. His performances across the tournament earned him the Golden Ball, strengthening his claim for football’s leading individual honour.
Tebas acknowledged that Rodri had spent extended periods unavailable through injury, but said the midfielder’s level in the World Cup had been exceptional. He believes that tournament should be decisive in the vote and said Rodri deserves to take the prize again.
The league president also described Rodri as the “Messi of Spanish football”, a comparison that Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has also made when discussing the midfielder’s influence on the national side.
A second Ballon d’Or would follow Rodri’s 2024 success, when he was recognised after Manchester City’s Champions League triumph and Spain’s European Championship victory. His 2026 switch to Barcelona has further raised his profile in Spain.
A strong field for the 2026 award
The contest is less settled than the previous two editions. Rodri and Vinicius Jr. dominated much of the conversation in 2024, while Ousmane Dembélé became the standout candidate in 2025. This year, several leading players remain in the running.
Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal is among Rodri’s principal challengers after an outstanding breakthrough campaign for the Catalan club and an important role in Spain’s World Cup-winning squad. The debate will centre in part on whether Yamal’s attacking impact can eclipse Rodri’s authority in midfield.
Harry Kane also has a substantial case after a prolific season with Bayern Munich. England’s captain won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, ending his wait for major club silverware in Germany, although Bayern did not win the Champions League and England did not lift the World Cup.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé remains a contender after securing the Pichichi award as La Liga’s leading scorer. However, the absence of major team honours last season leaves him behind the leading Spanish candidates in the current picture.
The vote remains open
Rodri’s World Cup displays give him a powerful argument, particularly for a deep midfielder in an award often dominated by forwards. Yet Yamal, Kane and Mbappé ensure the final outcome is far from decided.
