Rodri returns from ‘hell’ to drive Spain to World Cup glory
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Spain’s Rodri with FIFA’s Player of the Tournament award (Golden Ball) after the World Cup final, where his team beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026.
PHOTO: AFP
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey – Spain’s midfield rock Rodri hopes younger generations can learn from his experience in overcoming adversity, after he won the World Cup on July 19 to complete his collection of the game’s major prizes less than two years after rupturing his knee ligaments.
The 30-year-old was named the tournament’s Best Player and joined greats Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller and Zinedine Zidane as the only men to win the World Cup and European Championship, the European Cup/Champions League with their club, and the Ballon d’Or.
His achievement was all the more remarkable as he arrived at the tournament still looking for the dominant form that brought him football’s most prestigious individual award in 2024, after helping Spain win the Euro and steering Manchester City to a record unbeaten streak of 74 matches with him in the side.
“It feels like the perfect script. I certainly didn’t expect this,” he said after receiving FIFA’s Player of the Tournament award, confusingly named the Golden Ball, like the prize awarded by the France Football magazine.
“I’d love for the younger generations to see that a player who touches the heavens, then descends into hell, can come back. It’s a lesson in overcoming adversity.”
Rodri may be Spain’s most influential player, but La Roja are all about the collective. He heaped praise on his teammates for the way they kept at their task against a resilient Argentina side, finally securing a 1-0 victory with a Ferran Torres goal in the second period of extra time.
“That’s the secret of the national team,” he said. “We’re always going to go for you. In the end, God rewards you. We’ve been brave.
“We’re on cloud nine,” he added. “This squad is sensational. We’re two-time World Cup champions. It was the toughest tournament in World Cup history. We beat a great Argentina side, featuring (Lionel) Messi, the best player in history.”
Although it was a tough final, Rodri was in no doubt that his team deserved to join their Spanish 2010 predecessors by lifting the game’s biggest prize.
“Argentina. world champions,” he said. “They haven’t created much, but they’re hard to break down. Spain are simply very good and in the end, the result was fair.”
“Ultimately, the goal belongs to 47 million people – not just me or the 26 players,” he added, referring to Spain’s approximate population.
“It was written in the stars that we would win far away from our people, yet we made them feel as close as possible,” added Torres, who was named Player of the Match despite coming off the bench.
“It’s a huge sense of relief. I faced a lot of criticism during the World Cup, but destiny is written.”
Left-back Marc Cucurella, meanwhile, hailed his side’s “incredible” defence.
Coach Luis de la Fuente’s team conceded just one goal in their eight games at the tournament – the fewest by any side in a World Cup-winning campaign.
Belgium were the only team to breach their defence, in the quarter-finals in Los Angeles.
In the final, Argentina registered their first shot in the second period of extra time with goalkeeper Unai Simon essentially a spectator.
“When you don’t concede, I think it’s much easier to win,” said Cucurella, who recently sealed a transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid.
“We’ve done an incredible job in that regard all tournament, and not just the defenders and the goalkeeper, because I think it’s a team effort.
“Ultimately it’s about everyone making sacrifices. We attack together and defend together. That’s one of the keys to this team.”
The next “sacrifice” he has to make is to get a tattoo of de la Fuente.
Cucurella said last week that he would tattoo the coach’s face on his body if Spain lifted the trophy.
“I am too old for tattoos, but my players are men of their word and I know they will stick to their word,” the 65-year-old de la Fuente told a press conference.
“They made a mistake and they will stick to it. I am not that ugly.”
Asked which part of Cucurella’s body he would like to see his face on, the coach said with a smile: “Maybe a part of the body where it is not visible.
“But when you say something, you have to stick to their word.” REUTERS, AFP
