Rodri Picks Six Spanish Stars Over Mbappe for 2026 Ballon d'Or

Rodri Backs Spanish Teammates for 2026 Ballon d'Or

Barcelona midfielder Rodri has voiced his support for his fellow Spanish players to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, leaving out global stars like Kylian Mbappe. After Spain's World Cup victory, the former Manchester City player named six compatriots he believes deserve the prestigious award.

Rodri’s Six-Man Shortlist

In a recent interview with El Partidazo de COPE, Rodri revealed his personal nominees for the Ballon d'Or. His list is made up entirely of his international teammates:

• Marc Cucurella
• Pau Cubarsi
• Fabian Ruiz
• Lamine Yamal
• Ferran Torres
• Rodri himself

He expressed a strong desire for a Spaniard to take home the award, emphasizing that each of these players has a solid case. "What I would really like is for a Spaniard to win it," he said. "There are six of us nominated and individually, every one of them absolutely deserves the Ballon d'Or."

What Sets Each Candidate Apart

Rodri detailed the qualities and achievements of each nominee. He noted Fabian Ruiz as the player who collected the most titles during their intense season. The young talents stood out too, with Pau Cubarsi impressing at only 19 years old and Lamine Yamal described as "incredible." Ferran Torres earned praise for scoring the crucial goal in key moments, while Rodri reminded listeners he was named Player of the Tournament.

"Fabian Ruiz is the one who has won the most titles. Cubarsi, for what he has achieved at just 19 years old. Ferran scored the decisive goal. As for me, I was named Player of the Tournament. And Lamine is incredible."

Snubbing Global Superstars

By focusing exclusively on his Spanish teammates, Rodri left out some of football’s biggest names from the debate. Players like Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Ousmane Dembele did not make his list.

Despite overlooking these high-profile forwards, Rodri acknowledged the media buzz around them. "I think it's great that they consider themselves the best in the world," he remarked calmly.