Zinedine Zidane watches Rodri join elite club after Spain’s 2026 World Cup win

Zinedine Zidane now shares a rare honor with Rodri Hernández after Spain’s 2026 World Cup triumph in Los Angeles on 19 July.

What happened in the 2026 World Cup final?

Spain beat Argentina 2-1 in extra time to claim their fourth World Cup title. Rodri, the Manchester City captain, controlled the midfield and scored the decisive goal in the 108th minute. The match drew 118,000 fans to SoFi Stadium and finished just after midnight local time.

Why it matters for Zinedine Zidane

Zidane, France’s 1998 World Cup-winning playmaker, is one of only a handful of midfielders to lift the trophy. His 2006 final remains infamous for his head-butt on Marco Materazzi, yet his 1998 and 2000 triumphs cemented his place among the game’s greatest. Rodri’s 2026 winner now places him alongside Zidane in that same elite group.

How the new champion stacks up

Rodri, 29, becomes the first Spanish midfielder since Andrés Iniesta in 2010 to score in a World Cup final. His goal came after a 1-1 draw in regulation, with Lautaro Martínez equalizing in stoppage time. The Spanish press instantly compared Rodri’s composure to Zidane’s 2006 masterclass, though without the red card.

What comes next for Spain and Rodri

Spain’s victory ends a 12-year trophy drought and marks their first World Cup since 2010. Rodri, already a Ballon d’Or contender, now eyes a move to Real Madrid or stays at City. Zidane, retired since 2009, watched the final from Madrid and later told reporters he felt “proud to see a new generation carry the torch.”