‘It’s not just about scoring or assisting’: Marc Cucurella explains why Rodri deserves Ballon d’Or | Football News
Spain defender Marc Cucurella has heaped praise on captain Rodri after he was awarded the Ballon d’Or for his performance during Spain’s win at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Rodri played a key role in Spain’s second World Cup triumph, controlling the tempo in midfield and becoming the heartbeat of Luis de la Fuente’s side. Although he didn’t score or assist, the Manchester City star’s influence was evident in every game as he dominated possession, orchestrated attacks and protected Spain’s defence.Cucurella backed his captain to win the Ballon d’Or and highlighted Rodri’s valuable contribution beyond goals and assists.“It’s very important for us. I think sometimes it’s not just about scoring or assisting. He controls everything, he organizes the team. He decides when we press, he decides when we attack, which is very important for us. Every time we are under pressure, he gives us a chance because we can pass the ball to him and he never loses the ball. I think he deserves this trophy because he played a great game,” Cucurella said in his post-match speech.
Rodri wins World Cup Golden Ball
Rodri beats attacking superstars like Kylian Mbappe Lionel Messi Winning the tournament’s best player award emphasized the influence of his midfield control rather than his goal contribution.
| Statistics | Rodri’s 2026 World Cup |
|---|---|
| Goals/Assists | 0 goals/0 assists |
| Create opportunities | 10 |
| Conceded goal (Spain) | 1 |
| clean sheet | 7 out of 8 games |
In the 2026 World Cup final, Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in overtime, ending its 16-year wait to win the World Cup and winning the World Cup trophy for the second time. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute as Spain dominated possession and created most of the chances throughout the game.Argentina survived largely thanks to Emiliano Martinez’s record 11 saves, but suffered a major setback when Enzo Fernandez was sent off in stoppage time. Despite a late performance, Lionel Scaloni’s side failed to equalize.The victory made Spain a two-time world champion and set a World Cup record for conceding just one goal in the entire match.
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