Rodri's Spanish‑only shortlist clashes with global odds
While Barcelona midfielder Rodri, 30, has unveiled a six‑man Ballon d’Or shortlist that shines a spotlight on his Spanish national‑team colleagues, bookmakers’ odds suggest the award will likely drift towards the likes of England’s Harry Kane and France’s Kylian Mbappé.
Rodri’s personal pedigree
The announcement, accompanied by a Rob Newell – CameraSport/GettyImages photograph, came as Rodri recalled his own triumph two years ago, when he lifted the Ballon d’Or after Spain’s Euro 2024 victory and later secured the Golden Ball as La Roja claimed the World Cup. At 30, the Barcelona midfielder remains a strong contender for this year’s award.
Spanish nominees in the spotlight
Rodri’s six‑man list features Marc Cucurella, Pau Cubarsí, himself, Fabián Ruiz, Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres. He told El Partidazo de COPE, “I would really like a Spanish player to win the prize. We are six nominated … each of them absolutely deserves the Ballon d’Or.” The squad reflects the core of Spain’s World Cup‑winning side.
He highlighted Ruiz as the teammate with the most titles, praised the 19‑year‑old Cubarsí for his rapid rise, lauded Torres for scoring the decisive goal, and called Yamal “incredible”. Rodri also reminded listeners that he was named the tournament’s best player, earning the Golden Ball.
Odds favour foreign giants
Notably absent from the list are global favourites Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembélé, all of whom enjoy serious chances according to bookmakers. Their exclusion underscores Rodri’s focus on national peers rather than the broader field.
Betting odds suggest only two of the six Spanish nominees have realistic prospects, with Yamal widely regarded as the second favourite behind Kane. Mbappé is positioned as the third‑most likely contender.
Kane’s case rests on a phenomenal scoring record – 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and England combined. The English captain also finished as Bundesliga top scorer and became England’s all‑time leading World Cup scorer.