While the organization led by Gianni Infantino awarded Rodri with the Golden Ball of the 2026 World Cup, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics stated that the Argentine was the player with the best performance of the tournament
On the other hand, the organization also highlighted the central role that the number 10 had in the national team, especially in knockout stages. "Messi's contributions in the knockout phases were integral to Argentina's progression, and his aggregate index score across all weighted criteria was above all other players evaluated in the 2026 World Cup", they explained.
"The federation's panel, entirely guided by statistical evidence and the integrity of performance records, reached this conclusion with total confidence", they added. "Lionel Messi is the IFFHS Best Player — not by sentiment, not by reputation, but by the unquestionable authority of the data", they concluded.
The differences between both evaluations were also reflected in the ideal team compiled by the IFFHS. Messi is part of the attacking trident alongside Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, while Rodri, officially chosen by FIFA as the best player of the tournament, was not even included among the midfielders selected by the organization.
Thus, the debate over who was the standout player of the World Cup remains open. While FIFA prioritized Rodri's influence on the champion Spanish team, the IFFHS maintained that, according to its performance metrics, the best individual tournament once again featured Lionel Messi as the protagonist.
The choice of the best player of the 2026 World Cup continues to generate discussion after the crowning of Spain. While the FIFA awarded the Golden Ball to Rodri for his performance on the champion team, fans and even experts were dissatisfied with this nomination. In this context, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) published its own evaluation and reached a completely different conclusion: Lionel Messi was the player with the best performance of the entire tournament.
"The International Federation of Football History and Statistics is proud to announce that Lionel Messi from Argentina has been named the IFFHS Best Player, the highest individual honor awarded by our federation for exceptional tournament performance", the organization commented in a statement.
The IFFHS, recognized for its statistical studies on international football, explained that its evaluation was based on a performance index that considers performance in each match, goals, assists, and the impact of each player, especially in the knockout stages. "After a thorough analysis of each performance recorded in the 2026 World Cup, the verdict is unequivocal", they emphasized.
The numbers support this assessment. The Rosario native played in all eight matches for Argentina, scored eight goals, provided four assists, and recorded an average rating of 8.33 points, statistics that, according to the organization, placed him above figures like Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, and Erling Haaland.
