Rodri Hernández is one game away from completing one of soccer’s most difficult collections of individual and team titles. If Spain defeats Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final, the captain of La Roja will have won the World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, and the Ballon d’Or.
The game will be played on Sunday, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium—commonly known as MetLife Stadium—in East Rutherford. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. ET, 2:00 p.m. CT, and 12:00 p.m. PT—a time slot that is particularly important for the large Hispanic audience in the United States. Spain enters the match after defeating France 2-0 in the semifinals, while Argentina will look to defend the title it won at Qatar 2022.
Rodri, the captain who sets the pace
Although Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Mikel Oyarzabal have taken much of the spotlight, Rodri has been a key player in Luis de la Fuente’s system.
His ability to win the ball back, organize the team, and set the pace of each possession has allowed him to establish himself as a soccer leader and captain of this generation of Spanish players.
During the World Cup, the Royal Spanish Soccer Federation described him as “the beacon” of the national team.
Notably, he uses his influence to create passing lanes, provide balance, and control the most critical moments of games.
The midfielder has already won two of the three major awards.
In 2023, he won the Champions League with Manchester City by scoring the only goal in the final against Inter Milan.
That victory also capped off the historic treble for the team coached by Pep Guardiola.
A year later, France Football awarded him the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Making him the first Spaniard to win the award since Luis Suárez Miramontes in 1960 (Filed under: Rodri Aims to Complete the Most Exclusive Triple Crown).
The small group waiting for Rodri
Only ten soccer players have managed to win the World Cup, Europe’s premier club competition, and the Ballon d’Or:
Bobby Charlton
Franz Beckenbauer
Gerd Müller
Paolo Rossi
Zinedine Zidane
Rivaldo
Ronaldinho
Kaká
Lionel Messi
Ousmane Dembélé
Dembélé was the most recent addition.
The Frenchman won the 2018 World Cup in Russia, claimed the Champions League title with Paris Saint-Germain, and received the 2025 Ballon d’Or after a season in which he was named the best player in the European tournament.
The list does not include players such as Ronaldo Nazário, a World Cup champion and Ballon d’Or winner, because he never won the Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, and Karim Benzema are also missing from the list, as none of them have won a World Cup (Filed under: Rodri Aims to Complete the Most Exclusive Triple Crown).
Rodri has been an essencial piece in Luis de la Fuente's system
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A Final with History on the Line
Rodri is already a European champion with Spain, a Champions League winner, and a Ballon d’Or winner.
The World Cup is the one major title missing from his list of achievements.
A victory over Argentina would not only give Spain its second star, following South Africa 2010.
It would also make his captain the 11th player to win the sport’s three most prestigious awards.
And the first Spaniard to achieve this extraordinary feat (Filed under: Rodri Aims to Complete the Most Exclusive Triple Crown).
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