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, adding to the titles he had already won with the national side: the Nations League and Euro 2024.
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 recognizes a coach who understood how to manage a young, successful squad through a long and demanding tournament.