Rodri: I would sacrifice the Ballon d'Or for the World Cup

Spain's national team captain Rodri confirmed that he would never hesitate to give up the Ballon d'Or award he won in 2024 in exchange for winning the 2026 World Cup, emphasizing that collective achievements with the national team remain the most important for him.

He said: "I would definitely trade it, without any doubt. Winning with your country is the most special thing that can happen."

The Manchester City star explained that the European Championship title he achieved with Spain is the most important tournament he has won so far, but he sees the World Cup as the pinnacle any player aspires to, adding: "The World Cup is the ultimate you can aspire to. I understand football in a collective way, and individual awards are good, but we play for these moments, and I hope we achieve the second star."

Rodri also spoke about the teams most favored before the tournament starts, considering Spain and Argentina as the most prepared at the moment. He said: "Rankings don't mean much to us, but we are among the most stable teams in recent years, and in my opinion, we and Argentina are in the best shape."

The "La Roja" captain concluded his remarks by praising the Argentine team led by Lionel Scaloni, considering them the toughest competitor, saying: "Argentina is the most complex opponent because of what they have achieved and the quality of the team they have."