Spain’s World Cup triumph has done more than add another star to the nation’s jersey. It may have completely reshaped the Ballon d’Or race.

“I am convinced Lamine Yamal will win the Ballon d’Or very soon. If he keeps working hard and continues like this, he’ll be here.”

Those were Rodri’s words two years ago at Paris’ Théâtre du Châtelet, spoken with an unforgettable smile as he held his first Ballon d’Or, becoming just the second Spanish men’s player to win soccer’s most prestigious individual award.

Now, the Barcelona star has entered that same conversation. So has Rodri.

If being named the best player at UEFA Euro 2024 elevated Rodri into the world’s elite, being crowned the outstanding performer at the FIFA World Cup takes him to another level. He was the driving force behind Spain’s first world title in 16 years, from the glory of Johannesburg in 2010 to New Jersey in 2026.

Back then, Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández came close to winning the Ballon d’Or before Lionel Messi claimed the prize instead. Messi remains in the conversation today, but Spain largely neutralized him in the World Cup final. Now, Rodri and Lamine Yamal have become two of the strongest contenders for soccer’s biggest individual honor.

Rodri’s master plan comes together

For Spain’s captain, the tournament represented the culmination of a carefully crafted plan, one he outlined to AS just hours before the final.

“I was coming back from a serious injury, more muscular than anything else. We had to be smart and stop so I could rebuild my body. From January onward, I kept improving until the end of the season, when I missed another two weeks. I realized this was the year to prepare properly and set my sights on the World Cup.”

Rodri spent several months recovering after reaching an agreement with Pep Guardiola. Manchester City struggled without him, proving once again how irreplaceable he is.

Spain, however, reaped the rewards.

Any doubts about whether he could return to his best after suffering a torn ACL disappeared on the field. Throughout the World Cup, Rodri performed like a Ballon d’Or winner because that’s exactly the level he reached.

The group stage allowed him to regain his rhythm. Once the knockout rounds began, he delivered one dominant performance after another before finishing the tournament as the World Cup’s Most Valuable Player.

His numbers were just as impressive as the eye test.

Dating back to the 1966 World Cup, no player has posted more touches (910), completed passes (756), successful passes in the attacking half (428), or successful passes in the final third (205) during a single tournament. He dictated Spain’s tempo in difficult moments while anchoring a defense that produced the greatest defensive record by a World Cup champion, conceding just one goal throughout the tournament.

His season with Manchester City, despite FA Cup and Carabao Cup success, was excellent rather than extraordinary.

His World Cup was something else entirely.

Lamine Yamal keeps delivering

Lamine Yamal’s path has been different.

His breakthrough season came with Barcelona, where he scored 24 goals, added 18 assists, and helped the club win LaLiga and the Spanish Super Cup. The UEFA Champions League slipped away, but he tormented Atlético Madrid in the semifinal second leg, scoring the opener as Barcelona nearly completed a dramatic comeback.

He arrived at the World Cup already among the favorites to become one of the tournament’s defining stars.

He left wearing that crown.

Not as Spain’s leading headline-maker, but as one of the team’s most decisive players.

Lamine scored Spain’s first goal of the tournament against Saudi Arabia and finished by far as the World Cup’s most successful dribbler, completing 45 dribbles compared to Messi’s 25 in second place, an average of nearly six per game.

Against France in the semifinals, he won the penalty that Mikel Oyarzabal converted. Just as importantly, he showed remarkable maturity, resisting the temptation to force plays and willingly sacrificing individual brilliance when the team needed discipline instead.

Who are the contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or?

Lamine Yamal did not produce the tournament’s most spectacular individual campaign.

He produced one of its most complete.

That leaves him alongside Rodri as the Ballon d’Or race enters its decisive months.

The competition remains fierce. Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé continue to build their cases through goals. Michael Olise has dazzled with his creativity. Ousmane Dembélé added a European title to his résumé. Messi also strengthened his candidacy after finishing the tournament with eight goals and four assists for Argentina.

But in the final, both Messi and Argentina were held scoreless, just like every other team Spain faced.

Many players have built impressive Ballon d’Or résumés this year.

Only two can say they won the World Cup.

And that achievement has propelled Rodri and Lamine Yamal to the front of soccer’s biggest individual race.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that of this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.