Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has publicly challenged FIFA’s decision to name midfielder Rodri as the best player of the 2026 World Cup, after Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final.
FIFA’s award came after Spain secured the trophy, with the governing body citing Rodri’s performances as the most influential throughout the tournament. Yamal, speaking to the Spanish broadcaster Movistar, disagreed with the choice.
“For me, Leo Messi was the best player at the World Cup. Nobody expected a player at Leo’s age, even Leo himself, to be capable of doing those things at such a high level,” Yamal said. “Even though everyone knows Messi is the greatest of all time, nobody expected him to have such a legendary World Cup.”
Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists during the competition.
Yamal’s comments highlight the debate over individual accolades in the tournament, with Messi’s record of goals and assists standing out in a competition that saw Spain claim the title.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
