According to Tycsports, after Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner Rodri praised Argentina captain Messi.

In addition to Spain winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one of the lasting images from the final was Rodri-Hernandez's recognition of Messi. After the 1-0 victory at MetLife Stadium, the Spanish midfielder spoke with great respect about Argentina captain Messi, whom he faced in the final.

Rodri was named the best player of this FIFA World Cup. The Manchester City midfielder talked about the significance of completing the captain's ceremony with Messi before the match. Rodri said: "For me, just being able to take a photo with him at the captain's coin toss ceremony already represents what he means to football. I last saw him crying, and I think it was more because he understood what he means as a player and to Argentinian football. I can only say that I have great admiration for everything he has achieved and what he represents."

While Spain celebrated their second star in history, Luis de la Fuente's team also set a new record. With the final victory, Spain extended its unbeaten streak in international matches to 38 games, a record that will go down in history alongside their 2023 Nations League title, 2024 European Championship title, and 2025 Nations League runner-up finish.

On a personal level, Rodri was once again named the best player in an international tournament. The 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball joins the honors he previously won at the 2024 European Championship and the Golden Ball he received in 2023. On the other hand, Messi was clearly in great pain after the defeat. The images of the Argentina captain at the end of the match resonated around the world and became one of the most shocking scenes after Spain's victory.

Spain's path to victory included a significant comeback after their first match. After a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, Spain successively defeated Saudi Arabia and Uruguay to qualify as the top of Group H. In the knockout stage, Spain eliminated Austria, Portugal, Belgium, and France, and finally defeated Argentina in the final.

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