Luis Figo backs Rodri over Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal in Ballon d’Or race

Former Ballon d’Or winner Luis Figo has overlooked Lionel Messi and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal in his list of leading contenders for this year’s prize, despite their run to the 2026 World Cup final, instead putting Spain’s Rodri at the front of a four-man shortlist.

The Portuguese great, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2000, said Rodri’s performances in the United States, Mexico and Canada have made the Manchester City midfielder the standout candidate for football’s most prestigious individual award.

“Rodri قدم كاس عالم رايعا، وهذا قد يرجح كفته في سباق الكرة الذهبية,” Figo told Spanish newspaper Marca on Wednesday, insisting the Spain international had strengthened his case with consistently high-level displays throughout the tournament.

Rodri ‘at the front of the queue’

Figo argued that Rodri’s influence on Spain’s World Cup triumph outweighed traditional metrics such as goals and assists.

He acknowledged that the 28-year-old did not post headline-grabbing attacking numbers, but said his all-round impact in Spain’s midfield was decisive.

وقال: “رغم ان رودري لم يتالق كثيرا من ناحية الاهداف او التمريرات الحاسمة، فانه قدم بطولة استثنايية. كما ان مبابي، بفضل ما قدمه في كاس العالم، يجب ان يكون بين المرشحين”.

The 51-year-old said interest from Real Madrid in signing Rodri was “normal”, given his current status in the game, but warned that prising him away from Manchester City would be complicated.

واشار فيجو الى ان الحديث عن اهتمام ريال مدريد بضم رودري امر طبيعي، موضحا: “اعتقد ان اتمام الصفقة سيكون صعبا لانه يرتبط بعقد مع مانشستر سيتي، لكن الجميع يعلم ان ريال مدريد يسعى دايما للتعاقد مع افضل اللاعبين في العالم”.

Mbappe and PSG duo also backed

Alongside Rodri, Figo named Kylian Mbappe as another major Ballon d’Or candidate after the France forward’s influential World Cup campaign.

وراى النجم البرتغالي ان الفرنسي كيليان مبابي يستحق ايضا ان يكون ضمن ابرز المرشحين، بعد البطولة الكبيرة التي قدمها، رغم ان رودري لم يحقق ارقاما تهديفية او تمريرات حاسمة لافتة.

Figo then turned to Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League-winning squad, selecting two of their midfielders as surprise inclusions in his four-man list.

كما ضم فيجو الى قايمته ثنايي باريس سان جيرمان، البرتغالي فيتينيا والفرنسي ديزيري دوي، مشيرا الى ان ما قدماه خلال الموسم، خاصة بعد التتويج بدوري ابطال اوروبا، يجعلهما من ابرز المنافسين على الجايزة.

واضاف “اعتقد ان فيتينيا ودوي قدما موسما رايعا، حتى وان لم يكن كاس العالم الافضل بالنسبة لهما، خصوصا مع منتخب البرتغال، لكنهما يستحقان ان يكونا ضمن قايمة المرشحين”.

In doing so, Figo effectively sidelined Messi and Lamine Yamal, who have been widely tipped as leading favourites following Argentina’s and Spain’s progress to the World Cup final. He did not elaborate on his omission of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner or the 16-year-old Barcelona prodigy, focusing instead on players he believes defined the season and the tournament.

‘Spain were the best team’

Figo reserved special praise for Spain’s national side, saying their World Cup victory was fully deserved and built on defensive solidity and consistent high-level football.

واوضح “اسبانيا كانت افضل منتخب، ليس فقط في المباراة النهايية، بل طوال البطولة. استقبلت هدفا واحدا فقط، وكانت الاكثر استقرارا وقدمت افضل كرة قدم، لذلك فان تتويجها كان مستحقا”.

Spain’s run included conceding just a single goal across the tournament, reinforcing Rodri’s importance at the base of midfield and further underpinning Figo’s argument for his Ballon d’Or candidacy.

Mourinho’s Real Madrid return ‘all about trophies’

Away from the individual awards debate, Figo also addressed Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid, a club where both Portuguese figures have previously worked.

He said the main task facing Mourinho at the Bernabeu would be to restore the club’s habit of winning silverware after a barren spell.

واختتم تصريحاته قايلا: “اعتقد ان الهدف الاهم لريال مدريد الان هو العودة الى حصد الالقاب بعد موسمين من دون بطولات”.

With the World Cup concluded, attention now turns to how voters will weigh international success, club form and star power in a Ballon d’Or race in which, according to Figo at least, Rodri has edged ahead of Messi and the new generation’s brightest young star, Lamine Yamal.