World Cup Final: Spain rewarded with second crown for 'going for it' as Argentina hit ground zero
Rodri hopes to have inspired others to “rise again” having fought back from a significant knee injury to captain Spain to World Cup glory and be crowned player of the tournament.
The 30-year-old midfielder was hit by ligament damage in innocuous circumstances in September 2024 – just a month before being named Ballon d’Or winner – and returned the following May.
Rodri, in truth, lacked the same quality and influence when he resumed playing for Manchester City, whose then boss Pep Guardiola later admitted he had come back too quickly.
The Premier League runners-up may not have seen the best of him but he has sparkled this summer, collecting the Golden Ball as the World Cup’s best performer having led Spain to a 1-0 extra-time win in Sunday’s final against Argentina.
“We’re a bit shocked right now, even myself,” Rodri told Fox Sports. “I cannot express with words. I think now we’re like in a cloud but, for me, it’s been a very tough time.
“I just want the new generations to see my example as an opportunity. When you go down, you can rise again. This is my philosophy for my entire life.
“Of course, sometimes things go well, things go wrong, but always the positiveness.
“I said to the lads before the game, ‘we have to go for the game’. We need to face them, we have to look to their eyes. We want this game. And then life gives you the World Cup or not, but we were brave and I was brave in that moment I was down, so I want to thank all the people that helped me.
“But I want to thank myself, to be honest, in those moments.”
Rodri, whose City contract expires next summer, helped Spain to their second men’s World Cup title having playing an important role in their Euro 2024 triumph.
“The gap of improvement from the Euros, it was the way this team is matured,” added the Spain captain.
“It’s built on the game, it’s built on every single day. We faced very different opponents, of course, lots of European opponents, but different moments, different type of games.”
Emotional Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni hailed heartbroken Lionel Messi as the best footballer ever and tearfully cast doubt over his future following defeat to Spain.
Argentina were a pale imitation of the side that overcame England in the semi-final, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez keeping Spain at bay during 90 minutes in which his team failed to muster a shot.
Enzo Fernandez’s red card just before extra time increased the difficulty of the task facing a team that ended up suffering a thoroughly deserved 1-0 defeat sealed by super sub Ferran Torres’ strike.
Argentina will almost certainly go into the next World Cup without Messi, who sobbed after what looks to be his last game on the global stage.
“He is 39 years old, it is unbelievable,” Scaloni said. “It was always crystal clear to me that he would play until he chose to stop and that everyone would support him.
“I hope everyone is proud of him, because he is the best football player ever to set foot on a pitch.”