Rodri joins elite group after World Cup 2026 triumph with Spain
Spain's Rodri becomes just the seventh player to win the World Cup, a continental title, the Champions League, and the Ballon d'Or.
Key Takeaways
AISpain midfielder Rodri has joined an exclusive group of just seven players in football history after helping his country win the 2026 World Cup against Argentina on Sunday night.
Observers noted that Rodri, who plays for Manchester City, is now the seventh player ever to achieve the rare quartet: winning the World Cup, a continental championship with his national team, the UEFA Champions League, and the Ballon d'Or.
Rodri follows in the footsteps of Frenchman Zinedine Zidane, Argentine Lionel Messi, Brazilians Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, and Germans Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller, who previously accomplished this feat.
Rare individual achievement
Experts highlighted that this is one of the rarest individual accomplishments in football, requiring success with both club and country within a short span, as well as winning the Ballon d'Or awarded by France Football.
Rodri's entry into this elite list came after Spain's World Cup victory in 2026, where he was also named the tournament's best player, surpassing Lionel Messi.