Aaron Spain

Winning the ‘Ballon d'Or’ requires talent, intelligence and leadership. But are these qualities alone enough to make great managers? We’ve brought together the award winners who went on to pursue careers as managers to find out who built the greatest legacies on the touchline.

With a midfield well-stocked with Ballon d’Or pedigree and a philosophy ingrained, La Roja have shown once again that nobody controls a narrative like they do.

Tomorrow, at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, Spain will face Belgium in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.

From breaking unbeatable records to causing a sensation across the globe. We take a look at the 10 goalkeepers who shone and left their mark at the 2026 World Cup.