Rodri Wins Golden Ball: Did Spain's Engine Deserve It Over Messi?

Spain's World Cup triumph came with a full sweep of individual honours, and according to Sky Sports, the most debated award is the Golden Ball handed to midfielder Rodri.

Sky Sports notes that Rodri's influence on Spain's possession-based system was pivotal throughout the tournament, with his performances underpinning a side that conceded barely anything. Goalkeeper Simon also earned recognition, collecting the Golden Glove after keeping seven clean sheets in eight games, a record that made him difficult to argue against.

Yet the question lingers: did Messi, on what appears to be his farewell World Cup stage, do enough to claim the prize? Sky Sports points out that while Lamine Yamal did not quite reach the heights many anticipated, defender Cubarsi remained among the elite performers across the whole competition.

The debate will run for years, but Spain collected the trophies and that, for now, is the final word.