The 2026 Ballon d'Or awarded the title of "Best Coach" to Luis de la Fuente, selector of the Spanish national team. The victory comes immediately after the conquest of the World Cup by the Red Furies, which consolidated the coach's reputation as one of the most promising on the international scene.
De la Fuente was chosen from five candidates: Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, Aston Villa's Unai Emery, Bayern Munich's Vincent Kompany, PSG's Luis Enrique and himself. Four of the five were Spanish, demonstrating Spain's strong presence in the world technical scene, while the only exception is the German coach of Bayern. The choice of De la Fuente was welcomed with enthusiasm, especially considering the recent world victory and the leadership role he had in the team.
The award was announced in a ceremony which saw the participation of numerous protagonists of world football. Despite the absence of direct quotes, he referred to De la Fuente who underlined the importance of managing expectations and pressure, especially after success with the national team. It also highlighted the excellent form of key players such as Yamal, who played a crucial role in winning the tournament.
The award ceremony is part of a broader recognition context for 2026, with prizes for the best men's club, the best young player, the best attacker and the best goalkeeper. PSG won the “Best Men's Club”, while Harry Kane was awarded the title of best striker. The Yashin Trophy ended up in the hands of Unai Simon, the first Spaniard to receive this honor.
With De la Fuente's victory, Spain confirms itself as one of the most influential nations in European football, with a coach who has shown he can lead a team to levels of excellence. The manager's future looks promising, with the possibility of continuing to lead the national team in upcoming international tournaments and influencing world football with his tactical vision and ability to motivate players.