​Spain captain Rodri took home Fifa’s Golden Ball award for the tournament’s best player – and more importantly, Football Extra’s Best Player award, too. [Getty Images]The Football Extra newsletter team pick the best players, goals and moments from the 2026 World Cup and readers have their say too.It’s not too late to tell us who you think should have got a mention – email us at football.extra@bbc.com,If you’re outside the UK and would like to receive our football newsletter, sent daily Monday to Friday and covering all things football past and present, head this way.World Cup ’26 – Best playerGeorge Mills: “I’d never wish ill on someone but there was a part of me almost relieved to see Rodri’s struggles last season after returning from the ACL rupture that kept him sidelined for most of 2024-25. “He had become the single most influential player in the Premier League with almost a mythic ability to get “it” done – whatever “it” was on any given day.”Whether winning tackles, dominating the air, controlling the tempo, providing leadership, even scoring goals, he could do it all – and make it look effortless. “For him, the World Cup Golden Ball was richly deserved, representing personal redemption and a spectacular return to form after a year of real physical struggle. “For everyone else, it’s bad news. One of the world’s best is only getting better.”Jon Barbuti: “It’s always a little tempting to go against the flow, but is has to be Rodri. Spain’s win was built on controlling the game and of all their brilliant cogs in midfield, he is by far the most important.”Others were highly effective. Dani Olmo in particular impressed – he’d win an award for under-the-radar brilliance. Rodri though was always there, in the right place, running the game through intelligence and positioning.”It feels near certain that there are those at Fifa who would have loved the Golden Ball award for best player to have gone to one of the glamour names. Rodri meanwhile didn’t get a single goal or an assist. He didn’t pick up a yellow or red card. He didn’t go on mazy dribbles or create much xG. But he was on the pitch for 97% of all Spain’s minutes, his influence always obvious and couldn’t be ignored.”Your picks”I thought Marc Cucurella was absolutely superb for Spain throughout the World Cup. Tremendous work rate and commitment; he was alert to both opportunities and threats. He made himself a total pain in the neck for his opponents to deal with, disrupting their run of play at will. A complete team player!” (Eileen Byrne)”Pau Cubarsí, 19 years old and played like he was 29.” (Bert Buter)”Jude Bellingham.” (Luis Francisco Elias)”Lionel Messi – 8 goals and 4 assists at 39 years of age?” (JR Bauer)”Marc Cucurella. To my mind he performed so well in the World Cup finals that he must now be considered the best left full back in world football. What a shame he is lost to English football.” (Michael Millard)”Emiliano Martinez. If not for him Argentina would have lost