Spain’s midfield maestro completes an extraordinary journey by lifting the World Cup less than two years after suffering a career-threatening knee injury
Rodri has described Spain’s World Cup triumph as “the perfect script” after overcoming one of the darkest moments of his career to lead La Roja to global glory.
The Manchester City midfielder played a key role as Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at the New York New Jersey Stadium, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the second period of extra time.
At 30 years old, Rodri was named the tournament’s best player, winning the Golden Ball award, and completed a remarkable collection of football’s biggest honours.
His achievement places him alongside legendary figures such as Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller and Zinedine Zidane as one of the few players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the European Championship, the European Cup/UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d’Or during their careers.
However, the midfielder’s journey to the summit of world football was far from straightforward.
Less than two years before Spain’s triumph, Rodri suffered a serious knee ligament injury that threatened to derail his career.
The setback forced him into a long recovery process and left him searching for the form that had made him one of the most dominant midfielders in the world.
“I feel like it is the perfect script. I certainly did not expect this,” Rodri said after receiving FIFA’s Player of the Tournament award.
“I would love younger generations to see that a player who touches the heavens, then falls into hell, can come back again. It is a lesson about overcoming adversity.”
Spain’s Strength Was the Collective
Despite Rodri’s individual brilliance, the midfielder insisted Spain’s success was built on unity rather than one player.
La Roja showed resilience throughout a difficult final against Argentina, a team featuring Lionel Messi, before finally breaking the deadlock deep into extra time.
“That is the secret of this national team. We are always going to fight until the end. In the end, God rewards you. We have been brave,” Rodri said.
“We are on cloud nine. This squad is sensational. We are two-time World Cup champions.”
Rodri praised his teammates for maintaining belief against a disciplined Argentina side and described the tournament as one of the most challenging World Cups ever played.
“We beat a great Argentina team, with Messi, the best player in history. It was the toughest World Cup in history,” he added.
A New Chapter in Spanish Football History
Spain’s victory saw them join the legendary 2010 generation as World Cup winners, reinforcing their status among football’s elite nations.
Although Argentina created problems during the final, Rodri believed Spain’s overall performance deserved the trophy.
“Argentina are world champions, and they are difficult to break down. They did not create many chances, but they are a very strong team. Spain are simply very good, and in the end, the result was fair,” he said.
For Rodri, the World Cup victory represents more than just another trophy.
It is the ultimate reward for perseverance, patience and the ability to rise again after facing the lowest point of his career.
