Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
La Liga President Javier Tebas has waded into one of the most open Ballon d'Or races in recent memory, publicly declaring that Barcelona midfielder Rodri deserves to win the prestigious award for a second time. Tebas's endorsement, which notably overlooks Rodri's Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal, places the weight of the Spanish league's leadership behind the midfield general who captained Spain to World Cup glory in 2026.
The 2026 edition of football's most prestigious individual honour, set to be presented in London on October 26, has no clear frontrunner. While previous years featured narrower contests—Rodri and Vinicius Jr. in 2024, followed by Ousmane Dembele in 2025—this year's race features at least four serious contenders. Rodri, Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe are all widely regarded as having strong cases following their performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The consideration period for the 70th edition closed on July 31 and included the World Cup, a tournament widely seen as central to determining the winner.
For Tebas, however, the answer is simple. Speaking via Barca Universal, the La Liga chief argued that Rodri's performances on football's biggest stage outweigh any concerns about his club season. "Even though he was out for long periods due to injury, the World Cup he played in, he performed at an incredibly high level, incredibly high," Tebas said. "I think Rodri should win the Ballon d'Or again," he added.
Rodri's claim to a second Ballon d'Or rests primarily on his role in Spain's World Cup triumph, where he was named the tournament's best player and awarded the Golden Ball. The midfielder was the main point of difference for the Spanish national team that lifted the trophy. His performances in the World Cup, despite missing a large portion of the previous club season through injury, represent a compelling enough case to put him ahead of the field.
Rodri's path to the award has been complicated by his recent move from Manchester City to Barcelona, ending a seven-year stint in English football. The switch has introduced an interesting dynamic, as his new club teammate Lamine Yamal is also a serious candidate. Yamal enjoyed a superb campaign for Barcelona, scoring 16 goals and providing 12 assists in La Liga, and was named the league's Best Player for the 2025/2026 season. He was also a key differentiator for Barcelona and a member of Spain's World Cup squad. Some observers believe the overlap between the two Barcelona players could complicate Rodri's path to a second Ballon d'Or, though Tebas remains firmly in the Spanish midfielder's corner.
Perhaps more surprising than Tebas's backing of Rodri was his decision to overlook Yamal, despite the teenager's outstanding season. The La Liga president's comments have sparked debate, given Yamal's status as one of the world's elite players and his significant contributions to both Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
Rodri faces additional competition from Harry Kane, who had a splendid year with Bayern Munich, helping the team win the Bundesliga and the DFB Pokal. However, Kane fell short of the Champions League and the World Cup, which may weaken his candidacy. Kylian Mbappe also has an outside chance after winning the Pichichi trophy last season, though he failed to win any major silverware—a factor that could significantly hurt his chances.
With the list of nominees set to be announced on September 8 and the final ceremony in London on October 26, the debate over who deserves football's highest individual honour will only intensify. For now, the president of Spain's top flight has made his position unmistakably clear: Rodri, despite his injury struggles and the strength of the field, should be crowned the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner.
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