Rodri is reported to have won the FIFA Golden Ball for his performance at the World Cup, even as Lionel Messi is described in the coverage as the notable comparison point. Multiple sources frame the decision by noting Messi’s long run in the tournament and his age—he turns 39 in June—while highlighting the time horizon to the next World Cup in 2030, when Messi would be 43. The coverage also underscores a specific debate around contribution metrics, pointing out that Rodri’s recognition is presented alongside the detail that he scored 0 goals and provided 0 assists, while still being awarded the Golden Ball. In this framing, the award is linked to impact and overall play rather than only direct goal involvement. The articles present Messi’s World Cup story as ending in tears and position the Golden Ball outcome as a matter of evaluating overall influence on the tournament rather than focusing exclusively on end-product statistics. The sources do not indicate a dispute mechanism, but they collectively emphasize the contrast between traditional scoring measures and the award’s broader assessment criteria.