Luis de la Fuente has been named the best men’s coach after leading Spain to victory at the 2026 World Cup. The national team coach takes the award in a year defined by Spain’s triumph in football’s biggest tournament. He had already won the Nations League and Euro 2024 with the national side.
His work also helps explain Spain’s presence among the Ballon d’Or nominees, with half a dozen world champions nominated, including Lamine Yamal. De la Fuente showed that a national team can win when teamwork and togetherness matter as much as talent.
The award recognises a coach who understood how to manage a young, successful squad through a long and demanding tournament.