Messi, with eight distinctions, is the player with the most Ballon d’Or awards in history, although he enters this year’s race from behind. He won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, lifted two Copa America titles with his national team, and also won the Champions League with Barcelona.

Which trophy has eluded CR7? The World Cup. Ronaldo has won the Champions League with Real Madrid, lifted the European Championship with Portugal in 2016, and claimed five Ballon d’Or awards. However, the biggest prize at the international level remained out of reach, as he was unable to win it across his six World Cup appearances.

The other five players in this elite group are Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller from Germany, along with Zinedine Zidane of France. In addition, two Brazilian legends have achieved the same feat: Rivaldo and Ronaldinho.

Rodri’s trophy cabinet

Rodri has established himself as one of soccer’s ultimate winners, boasting an incredible track record at both club and international levels. On June 10, 2023, he scored the historic winning goal to secure the UEFA Champions League title for Manchester City.

Just over a year later, on July 14, 2024, he led Spain to European glory by winning the UEFA Euro and earning Player of the Tournament honors. His dominance was individually crowned on October 28, 2024, when he won the prestigious Ballon d’Or. Capping off this legendary run, he reached the absolute pinnacle of world soccer by becoming a FIFA World Cup champion with Spain, and also being awarded with the World Cup Golden Ball.

Ronaldo can no longer join them

This was Cristiano Ronaldo’s sixth World Cup, and his dream of winning the title came to an end after Portugal’s elimination at the hands of Spain. The forward made it clear that this was his final appearance at the tournament representing his country, meaning he will not be able to join the exclusive group of players who have won all four of these major honors.

“I hope my story will be taken by young players as an example: even when your career goes down, you can always come back,” Rodri said after the final. His message highlights that it is entirely possible to return to the highest level of the game, regardless of how devastating an injury might seem.

The midfielder, who also took home the Golden Ball as the 2026 World Cup’s best player, tore his ACL back in 2024. While he recovered, his form initially dipped. However, he fought his way back to peak condition just in time to lead Spain on the world stage.

The engine behind Spain’s championship run

Rodri’s impact wasn’t just felt through his words; his younger teammates deeply recognized his leadership on the pitch. Spanish defender Marc Cucurella echoed this sentiment perfectly.

“He controls everything. He organizes the team, he decides when we press, he decides when we attack,” Cucurella said. His praise underscores how Rodri directed the squad, guiding the younger players as they picked apart Argentina‘s defense.

Will Rodri suit up for Spain in 2030?

By the time the 2030 World Cup kicks off, Rodri will be 33, turning 34 on June 22 during the tournament. Given his role as the team’s indispensable midfield anchor, it is highly likely he will still be a crucial part of Spain’s roster in 2030.

There is a case for both players to win the Golden Ball. Rodri not only helped Spain win the 2026 World Cup, but he was the metronome and the one who controlled the tempo of the game. Without him, Spain didn’t have balance. Rodri now joins the list of the all-time FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winners.

As for Messi, the only reason Argentina got to the final was thanks to his heroics. At 39 years old, Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists. Out of Argentina’s 19 goals, Messi was involved in 12 of them.

Messi deserves huge recognition

Messi cried after the World Cup final, and it’s understandable. Not only is the pain of losing this game a huge blow, but it also meant that Messi’s heroics at 39 years old weren’t enough, his team end up falling short.

Without Rodri, Spain would’ve still been a contender. Maybe not enough to win it all, but still juggernauts. Without Messi, Argentina’s World Cup campaign would’ve likely been way shorter.

Messi’s has nothing to be ashamed of

Many are quick to blame the biggest star of the losing team. After all, they’re the ones that should guide their team to gold. For Messi, he did all he could. It was a matter of Spain being completely superior to Argentina in all fronts.

After a heated showdown in Dallas, Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton wasn’t exempt from criticism. First, Didier Deschamps questioned the officiating after France’s loss. Not long after, Rodri joined in, even though he was on the winning side. When both teams have complaints about the referee, though, it sometimes suggests he actually did a good job. In more ways than one, that’s true for Barton.

Still, Rodri believes the referee decisions involving Yamal aren’t exclusive to Barton’s performance and have been a recurring theme throughout the 2026 World Cup.

“We’ve been dealing with this type of situation for three games now. We’re talking about 10 or 15 uncalled fouls. And if we don’t call them, the defenses continue to do the same thing. The permissiveness is obvious,” Rodri stated after the game, via RMC Sport. “Especially today. But [Lamine Yamal] had a great game.”

Barton’s controversial calls

The main criticism of Barton’s officiating in the semifinal between France and Spain isn’t linked to the calls he made on the pitch, but rather the ones he missed. There is no doubt that Digne’s dangerous challenge on Yamal warranted a penalty, but there were other incidents Barton failed to punish.

The most serious was a harsh challenge by Michael Olise on Rodri, with contact made to the midfielder’s ankle. Barton blew his whistle but showed no cards, and the VAR booth didn’t summon him to the monitor for an on-field review. Another controversial decision came on a play in which Unai Simon—whose numbers at the 2026 World Cup have virtually secured the Golden Glove award—took a while to collect the ball. Kylian Mbappe challenged for possession with a high boot that caught the goalkeeper.

Mbappe was shown only a yellow card for the offense, but he could have deserved a harsher punishment. Had he been sent off, Mbappe would have missed the third-place match at the 2026 World Cup and likely fallen out of the Golden Boot race, in which Lionel Messi is set for a direct battle with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.

Yamal’s outing against France

Although he didn’t register a goal or an assist, Yamal was impossible to miss during Spain’s victory over France in the Lone Star State. The 19-year-old wonderkid was responsible for Spain’s first goal of the game, as he was fouled inside the penalty box by Lucas Digne. Mikel Oyarzabal converted from the penalty spot, but it was the young phenom who put him in that position in the first place.

Yamal also scored after a brilliant move, but the goal was disallowed for a narrow offside. As a result, stat-sheet watchers may not appreciate his performance, but Yamal played a superb game against France.

Moreover, he has yet to play at his absolute best, which means he might be saving his best for last as Spain wait to learn who they will face in the 2026 World Cup final. Whoever prevails between Argentina and England may have to prepare for Yamal’s best performance of the tournament.

Rodri gave a clear answer about who he thinks are the favorites to win the Ballon d’Or. “Out of affection, I would like Lamine or Pedri to win, although if it’s based on sporting merits, maybe Ousmane or Vitinha,” he said at the press conference. Although he mentioned Yamal as one of the favorites, implying that he does not have sufficient sporting merits was somewhat controversial.

In the 2024-25 season, Lamine Yamal emerged as one of the world’s top talents, netting 18 goals and delivering 25 assists over 55 appearances for Barcelona. His influence extended to the international stage, where he shone for Spain in the Nations League, scoring three goals and contributing one assist. Despite being 18 years old and not winning the 2025 Champions League title, his remarkable performances have solidified his status among the elite.

Rodri made headlines by including Pedri and Vitinha among his favorite players for the prestigious award. While neither player is known for scoring goals like wingers or forwards, their recent performances have been vital, significantly impacting their team’s offense. Notably, Vitinha stands out as a strong contender for the award, having clinched both the Champions League and Nations League titles last season.

When will the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or be announced?

Following an action-packed season, anticipation for the 2025 Ballon d’Or is reaching a fever pitch as several standout candidates vie for soccer’s most prestigious individual honor. The winner will be revealed on Monday, September 22, during a grand ceremony at the iconic Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.

Either Dembele or Lamine could make history by winning the Ballon d’Or

Despite featuring strong contenders for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal are the top favorites to chinch the award. And both have opportunities to make history. if Paris Saint-Germain’s standout Dembele wins, he will become the sixth French player to earn the honor. This victory would elevate France to eight awards, tying with Argentina for the most in the award’s history.

Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal holds the potential to set an astonishing record. Should the Barcelona prodigy win, he would become the youngest Ballon d’Or recipient ever, achieving this feat at just 18 years and 2 months old. This would surpass Ronaldo Nazario’s milestone, established when he won at 21 years and 3 months.

“I can try to understand people who say from their couch: ‘You earn a lot of money, so you have to play.’ My reflection is that we simply need a little more rest. We can play the same number of games, but we should have more rest during the holidays to try to regenerate the body, try to come back and withstand the burden of so many games,” Kylian Mbappe said at a press conference with France.

Even if playing 60 games a year is standard for an NBA player, who might compete in a little over 80 games, the difference in rest periods makes Kylian’s request quite reasonable. According to FIFPro, soccer players receive a four-week break after their season concludes. Meanwhile, NBA players can rest for three months or even longer. This clear difference underscores the justification behind Mbappe’s words.

Kylian delved deeper into the conversation, emphasizing that an increased number of games does not necessarily translate to a better spectacle. He remarked, “I don’t remember seeing a soccer player who has played 60 games in a season at the highest level. I’ve seen some who are considered the best players in history, others who are perhaps a step below, but I’ve never seen a soccer player play 60 games at his best.”

Not only Kylian: Other soccer stars also voice concerns over intense match schedules

Although Kylian Mbappe is the latest player to speak out about FIFA‘s demanding schedule, he is not the first to raise concerns on the matter. Following the announcement of the 2025 Club World Cup, critics, including head coaches like Enzo Maresca and prominent players, quickly expressed their dissatisfaction over the minimal rest period after the season’s end. In response, two more soccer stars have echoed these critics.

Jules Kounde, star player for Barcelona and France, also decided to express his opinion about the high intensity of the professional schedule. “Sometimes in life, when we overdo things, we stop appreciating them. When we see too much, we no longer give it the same importance. That’s what’s happening with soccer — it’s overconsumption… These are things we need to put into perspective and I think they need to change.”

Rodri Hernandez, the latest Ballon d’Or winner, expressed dissatisfaction with the intense schedule in September 2024. “I think it’s too much. Someone has to look after us, because we are the protagonists of this sport, or business, or whatever you want to call it. It’s not all about money or marketing, it’s also about the quality of the spectacle… When the number of games increases, their performance and quality decrease.“

City supporters greeted Vini with a banner in the stands featuring an image of Rodri kissing the prestigious trophy, accompanied by the phrase “Stop crying your heart out,” a reference to an Oasis song and a clear dig at the Brazilian, who was widely regarded as the frontrunner for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

The jibes continued throughout the match at the Etihad, with fans chanting “Where’s your Ballon d’Or?” But the winger, unfazed, responded in style—by pointing at his jersey to reveal a patch celebrating Real Madrid’s record 15 UEFA Champions League titles, a full 14 more than Manchester City.

That was not Vinicius’ only response. After the match, he addressed the taunts head-on in his post-game press conference. “I saw the banner,” he acknowledged. “But whenever opposing fans do things like that, it only gives me more strength to deliver a great performance, and I believe I did that tonight.”

He also highlighted the significance of Real Madrid‘s legacy in the competition, noting the weight that history carries whenever the club steps onto the international stage. “They know our history and everything we’ve achieved in this competition,” Vinícius said. “This is our fifth time here, and while it’s always cold, this time we won. We have to keep this momentum going.”

Vinicius’ vital contribution to Madrid’s victory

Vinicius was crucial to Real Madrid’s victory in Manchester, providing the assist for Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time goal, which proved to be the match-winner. For his efforts, the Brazilian star was named MVP, but he remained focused on the collective effort rather than individual accolades.

“It wasn’t bad, I was able to play a great game, we defended very well and it doesn’t matter who scores goals or is the MVP, we are here to do great things for this shirt and put Madrid in the highest place,” Vini said after the match. And he even humorously admitted that in the decisive play, he had originally aimed to shoot but accidentally set up Bellingham: “The important thing was the win, no matter how it came. On the last ball, I tried to shoot, and it ended up going to Jude.”

A crucial game ahead for Real Madrid

While the victory in Manchester was a crucial step, Vinicius made it clear that Real Madrid’s work is far from done. The second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, set for next Wednesday, February 19, remains pivotal for securing their spot in the Champions League Round of 16.

“There’s still a lot of soccer to be played in the second leg,” Vini emphasized. “We need to defend like we did today and make sure our fans are behind us for what promises to be a magical night.”

We have entered a new year, but the controversy surrounding Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win is still a topic of discussion. After Cristiano Ronaldo called his victory “unfair” at the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards, the Manchester City midfielder responded strongly to the Portuguese star.

In an interview with Diario AS, Rodri responded to Ronaldo’s comments with his own pointed observation: “Honestly, it’s a bit of a surprise, because he knows better than anyone how this award works and, above all, how the winner is selected. This year, the journalists who voted decided I should be the winner. These same journalists have probably voted for him in the past, and I assume he was happy with their choice back then.”

Ronaldo, who is himself a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, said that Vinicius Junior deserved the award more because he “won the Champions League and scored in the final” with Real Madrid. However, Vinicius ended second in the rankings. The Brazilian later claimed the FIFA The Best Award.

Rodri claimed his first Ballon d’Or in October, following a stellar year in which he helped Manchester City dominate the Premier League and led Spain to victory in Euro 2024. His achievement, however, has sparked considerable backlash from some prominent figures in football, including Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and more.

Rodri says the Ballon d’Or win changed his life

Rodri, who tore his ACL in September, spoke of the impact winning the Ballon d’Or has had on his day-to-day life. “It has changed my life,” he said. However, he admitted that his injury has also impacted him.

“Many things that I could do before, obviously, I can no longer do. But hey, it is for a good reason … I have the philosophy that in life you have to take things as they are given to you,” he said. “There is no need to complain when things are not the way you want or go crazy when you win a Ballon d’Or. God has given me what he has given me and I am extremely grateful. I have to deal with everything, including injuries, and move forward.“

Without Rodri, Manchester City have struggled in the Premier League, where they are sixth in the standings. Before defeating Leicester City last week, City had an awful record: one win in their last thirteen matches, one victory in the past nine ‘Premier’ rounds, and five consecutive away games without a win.

Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or record: How many trophies has he won?

Ronaldo, who has won the Ballon d’Or five times in his career, remains the second player with the most wins in history, trailing only Lionel Messi. The Portuguese forward first earned the prestigious award in 2008 while at Manchester United and held the distinction of being the last Premier League player to win it until Rodri’s triumph.

Almost a month after Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d’Or over Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has finally explained why the club decided to not send any representatives to the gala. The boss slammed UEFA, who co-organized the event with France Football, and defended their position.

“It’s clear that this year the Ballon d’Or should have gone to a Real Madrid player, regardless of the criteria used, whether it was Vinicius, our captain Carvajal, or Bellingham. It’s very difficult to explain the final result. UEFA communicated that nothing would change with their involvement in the award, but, goodness gracious, for nothing to have changed… Surprising things have happened, and I want to tell you about them,” he said during the club’s general assembly, according to Relevo.

“First of all, UEFA has altered the voting system and the points that each journalist can give to each player. The maximum has increased from six to fifteen. And they’ve included journalists that nobody knows and from countries with populations of less than a million. Without the votes of four of them (Finland, Albania, Uganda, and Namibia), Vinicius would have won,” he added.

Relevo also informed that Real Madrid‘s coach Carlo Ancelotti, who won as best men’s coach of the year, as well as Jude Bellingham, who had brand commitments, were going to assist the gala, which took place in Paris, but Perez stopped them.

However, Perez said that his complaints have nothing to do with Rodri. “Last season he achieved the treble with his club and scored in the Champions League final. However, he didn’t even make it to the podium. Rodri is a fantastic footballer and, on top of that, he’s from Madrid. He has all our affection. But that has nothing to do with it,” he stated.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or was controversial

Rodri, who is currently recovering from an ACL injury, won the Ballon d’Or after being a key player for Spain and Manchester City. He won the UEFA Euro, while being the MVP of the tournament. He also lifted the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup titles.

However, it was expected that a Real Madrid player would have taken the award. While Vinicius Junior’s Brazil was eliminated from the Copa America early, he was the MVP of the Champions League and LaLiga winner. In all competitions, he scored 26 goals and provided 11 assists.

In an interview with Cadena SER, Rodri shared his perspective on Vinicius Jr., offering both praise and criticism. “I think Vinicius is intelligent, and with time, he will realize that the more he focuses on the pitch, the better he will be,” Rodri said. “He’s a great footballer, but he has areas to improve both on and off the field. He’s young, and I’m sure he has people to advise him well. Athletes also need to manage their off-field behavior.”

The remarks referred to accusations of arrogance and a perceived lack of respect from Vinicius toward his colleagues. Additionally, Real Madrid’s decision to boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony—reportedly because Vinicius did not win—added to the controversy surrounding the Brazilian forward.

Neymar, known for his outspoken nature, didn’t hesitate to defend his national teammate. On Instagram, the Al-Hilal forward commented on Rodri’s statement, which was shared by the account Futeousadia, writing: “He became a talker now,” accompanied by laughing emojis.

The impact of Neymar’s comment

Neymar’s unexpected intervention sparked significant engagement on social media, garnering over 50,000 likes and 2,100 comments. The majority came from fans of Neymar and Vinicius Jr., who shared messages of support for the Brazilian stars while taking sides in the ongoing controversy with Manchester City’s Rodri.

Previous tensions between Rodri and Vinicius

This wasn’t the first time the Spanish midfielder had addressed Vini in a critical light. A few weeks ago, Rodri had to clarifiy that he did not intend to disrespect Vinicius during the Ballon d’Or celebrations, following the release of a controversial video by Manchester City that was subsequently taken down.

Adding to the tension, Rodri also criticized Real Madrid’s absence from the Ballon d’Or ceremony. “The second, the third, the fourth (best players) were absent… The best team of the year didn’t attend the ceremony, even though the best coach and joint top scorer were crowned. I would have acted differently, but they do what they want,” the Spanish star remarked in the Cadena SER interview.

A brewing rivalry

The escalating tensions between Rodri and Vinicius Jr. highlight the growing rivalry between Manchester City and Real Madrid, two of Europe’s footballing powerhouses. Neymar’s defense of Vinicius further underscores the solidarity among Brazilian players while adding another layer of drama to this ongoing saga.

Manchester City star Rodri, who won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, appeared in Spain’s famous program El Hormiguero, where he discussed the greatest players of all time. The midfielder had an interesting opinion regarding Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, saying the Argentine was more complete.

“Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time, without any doubt. Cristiano has managed to match Messi without innate talent. But those of us who have played against them can see the difference. We didn’t want Cristiano to step into the box because he was lethal there. But with Messi, the danger was everywhere on the pitch,” he explained.

Rodri, further explained what makes the Argentine different: “When Messi got the ball, you’d think: ‘Oh, danger.’” When I first started playing against him, I tried to take the ball from him, and he dodged you as if you were a bull in the ring. The feeling I had was that something bad was about to happen.”

This is not the first time that Rodri talks about Messi, as he recently said he was one of the players he feared the most. As a Villarreal and Atletico Madrid player, Rodri faced both players several times.

Rodri, who is currently recovering from an ACL injury, won the Ballon d’Or, surprisingly edging Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior. The award is the jewel of the crown to a spectacular season in which he also won the UEFA Euro with Spain, and the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup with Manchester City.

Rodri will try to return to the pitch this season

Manchester City midfielder Rodri, currently sidelined with an ACL injury, remains optimistic about a potential return this season. Despite the severity of the injury, the Ballon d’Or winner is determined to push himself mentally and physically to rejoin his team.

“Yes, yes. The seasons are longer now, with the Club World Cup ending on July 13th. I want to challenge myself mentally,” he said recently. He suffered the injury during a 2-2 draw with Arsenal back in September.