Rodri Picks Six Spanish Stars Over Mbappe for 2026 Ballon d'Or
Barcelona midfielder Rodri has made a bold statement by endorsing his fellow Spanish World Cup winners as the true contenders for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. He left out global icons like Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane, instead naming six of his La Roja teammates as deserving candidates.
Rodri’s Six-Man Spanish Lineup
After Spain's memorable World Cup win, Rodri, who once played for Manchester City, insisted that the prestigious award should go to a Spaniard. In an interview with El Partidazo de COPE, he revealed his shortlist composed exclusively of his international teammates.
- Marc Cucurella
- Pau Cubarsi
- Fabian Ruiz
- Lamine Yamal
- Ferran Torres
- Rodri himself
"What I would really like is for a Spaniard to win it," Rodri said. "There are six of us nominated: Cucurella, Cubarsi, Rodri, Ruiz, Lamine, and Ferran. Each one absolutely deserves the Ballon d'Or. All my teammates have solid arguments."
Why These Spanish Stars Stand Out
Rodri highlighted the strengths behind each player’s case. He pointed out that Fabian Ruiz collected the most titles over the season. The young Pau Cubarsi impressed despite being only 19, while Lamine Yamal was described as simply incredible. Ferran Torres earned praise for netting the crucial goal when it counted most. Rodri also noted his own achievement as Player of the Tournament.
- Fabian Ruiz: Most titles won during the campaign
- Pau Cubarsi: Exceptional achievements at just 19 years old
- Ferran Torres: Scored the decisive goal
- Rodri: Named Player of the Tournament
- Lamine Yamal: Described as incredible by Rodri
Overlooking Football’s Biggest Names
By focusing on his victorious Spanish teammates, Rodri excluded some of football's top attackers from his Ballon d'Or picks. Stars like Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Ousmane Dembele were noticeably absent. Despite their impressive goal records and media hype, Rodri acknowledged the attention they receive but stayed loyal to his compatriots.
"I think it's great that they consider themselves the best in the world," Rodri calmly stated, showing respect even as he chose differently.
