Lionel Messi was 39 years old, playing for Inter Miami, and he still nearly dragged Argentina to a second straight World Cup title. Then Rodri and Spain happened.
The Spanish midfielder took home the Golden Ball after La Roja beat Argentina in the final, and honestly, a lot of people are mad about it. Messi had been phenomenal all tournament — seven goals, three assists, the whole Maradona-at-86 routine. But Rodri got the nod. History says this kind of thing is pretty common.
Let’s go through the five biggest times the World Cup Golden Ball went to the wrong guy.
2014: Toni Kroos over Messi (and James Rodriguez)
Messi winning the 2014 Golden Ball always felt like a consolation prize. He was brilliant in the group stage, sure, but by the knockout rounds he looked drained. Argentina barely scraped past Switzerland and needed penalties to beat the Netherlands. In the final against Germany, Messi was invisible.
The real standout that tournament was Toni Kroos. The German midfielder ran the show, especially in that 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the semifinals. Two goals and an assist in that game alone. And James Rodriguez? He was the face of the World Cup, scored that gorgeous volley against Uruguay, but Colombia went out in the quarterfinals. You can’t give the Golden Ball to a guy who didn’t make the final four. Though it would have been fun.
2010: Xavi over Diego Forlan
Diego Forlan winning the Golden Ball in 2010 is one of those things that looks good on paper but makes you scratch your head if you actually watched the tournament. He was incredible, no question. Forlan figured out how to control that erratic Jabulani ball and almost single-handedly got Uruguay to the semifinals.
But Spain’s 2010 team was a machine built on collective genius. There was no one superstar. And yet, the heart of that machine was Xavi. His passing numbers were absurd. He completed more passes than entire teams did. Spain won the World Cup playing tiki-taka, and Xavi was the engine. He should have had the Golden Ball.
2018: Luka Modric over Antoine Griezmann
We know, we know. Modric broke the Messi-Ronaldo Ballon d’Or duopoly that year. Croatia’s run to the final was one of the great stories in World Cup history. But let’s be real about what happened.
Croatia had a ridiculously easy path through the knockout bracket. They needed penalties to get past Denmark and Russia. The England team they beat in the semifinals was young and flawed. And when they finally faced a top-tier opponent in France, they got dismantled 4-2. Modric and Ivan Rakitic were outplayed by France’s midfield.
Griezmann was the man of the match in the final, scored a penalty, and was France’s best player throughout the knockout stages — including that tough win over Belgium’s Golden Generation in the semis. He was the tournament’s most impactful player. Modric was a great story. Griezmann was the best player.
2022: Messi (rightfully) won it, but 2002 was a mess
No arguments about 2022. Messi earned that one. But 2002? That’s where things get ridiculous.
Oliver Kahn won the Golden Ball that year, which is insane when you think about it. Germany’s 2002 team was one of the most ordinary sides to ever reach a World Cup final. They relied on Kahn’s heroics all tournament, sure. But then came the final. Ronaldo scored twice. Kahn didn’t exactly cover himself in glory on either goal.
Ronaldo Nazario was the story of that World Cup. His comeback from injury, his eight goals, the redemption arc — it was a documentary waiting to happen. No one’s making a film about Kahn’s saves. The voting committee seemed to decide before the final that Kahn would win, and they stuck with it. Ronaldo should have taken that trophy home.
And now, 2026. Messi deserved a third Golden Ball. Rodri was excellent — the best player on a dominant Spanish team. But Spain’s system was bigger than any one guy. Unai Simon, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Pedri, Fabian Ruiz — they all played perfectly within Luis de la Fuente’s plan.
Argentina had no plan beyond giving the ball to a 39-year-old Messi and hoping he’d figure it out. He nearly did. That’s why he should have won the award. Individual awards in a team sport are always a little silly, but if you’re going to hand one out, give it to the guy who made the impossible look routine.
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