20/07/2026
First of all, let me make one thing clearโRodri is one of my favorite midfielders in club football. His quality, positioning, passing, and ball recoveries are undeniably among the best in the world.
But when it comes to the World Cup, Lionel Messi carried Argentina from start to finish.
๐ฆ๐ท 8 goals, ๐ฏ 4 assistsโnot just the numbers, but his overall impact, leadership, and performances in the biggest moments made him, in my opinion, the strongest contender for the Golden Ball.
That said, Rodri also had an outstanding tournament and played a vital role in Spain's World Cup triumph. He deserved recognition, and I have no issue with him winning the Golden Ball.
What stands out to me, however, is the difference in people's reactions.
Today, after Rodri won the Golden Ball, many have remained completely silent. But if the exact same award had gone to Messi, would social media have been this calm? Or would timelines have been flooded for days with words like "rigged," "fixed," and "robbed"?
The issue isn't the award itselfโthe issue is the double standard. Silence in one case, endless controversy in the other.
Congratulations to Rodri. But if Messi had won under the same circumstances, do you really think people would have stayed this quiet?
The answer is yours.
