Rodri Picks His Six Ballon d'Or Contenders, Snubs Mbappe and Other Big Names
Barcelona midfielder Rodri has thrown his support behind six of his fellow Spain internationals as the top candidates for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. After Spain's World Cup victory, he made it clear that the award should go to one of his national team colleagues rather than global stars like Kylian Mbappe or Harry Kane.
A Six-Man Spanish Shortlist
The 30-year-old, speaking on El Partidazo de COPE, revealed his personal list of contenders, all of whom are from La Roja. These are Marc Cucurella, Pau Cubarsi, Fabian Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and himself.
"What I would really like is for a Spaniard to win it. There are six of us nominated: Cucurella, Cubarsi, Rodri, Ruiz, Lamine, and Ferran. Every one of them absolutely deserves the Ballon d'Or," said Rodri. "I think all my teammates have solid arguments."
Why Each Spaniard Deserves Recognition
Rodri took time to explain what sets each candidate apart. He pointed out that Fabian Ruiz earned the most titles during their intense campaign. The young prodigy Pau Cubarsi, at only 19 years old, has achieved remarkable things. Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal impressed with his incredible performances, and Ferran Torres scored the crucial goal when it mattered most. Rodri himself was named Player of the Tournament.
- Fabian Ruiz: Most titles won
- Pau Cubarsi: Achievements at 19 years old
- Ferran Torres: Scored decisive goal
- Rodri: Player of the Tournament
- Lamine Yamal: Incredible talent
Ignoring the Big International Stars
Notably absent from Rodri's list were some of world football's biggest names. Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Ousmane Dembele did not make the cut. Although these players boast impressive goal-scoring records, Rodri acknowledged the hype around them but chose to focus on his Spanish teammates.
"I think it's great that they consider themselves the best in the world," Rodri commented calmly.
