Rodri’s quiet command carries Spain to the brink of the World Cup
Spain are one win from the World Cup, with Rodri back in control after injury doubts and dominant in the semifinal win over France.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Rodri has gone from limping out of Manchester City’s Club World Cup campaign to steering Spain into a World Cup final against Argentina at Dallas Stadium.
The Manchester City midfielder was central to Spain’s semifinal win over France, a performance that drew public praise from coach Luis de la Fuente and added another sharp turn to a three-year run of peaks, setbacks and comebacks.
Rodri scored in the 2023 Champions League final, won the Euros with Spain in 2024 and was named the world’s best men’s player that same year. He then suffered a serious knee ligament injury and endured a recovery that included multiple false starts, according to ESPN.
A year ago in the United States, Rodri’s comeback looked promising when he played well for City in a 5-2 Club World Cup win over Juventus. In the next round against Al Hilal, he entered in the second half but left early in extra time as City were eliminated. Pep Guardiola later said Rodri had asked to come off after “complaining about his situation.”
Spain’s midfield metronome
Now he is back in the middle of everything for Spain. After the semifinal victory over France, De la Fuente singled him out while explaining Spain’s control of a match against a side packed with attacking talent.
“Rodri is the backbone in midfield that makes everything right,” De la Fuente said, according to ESPN.
The numbers from the France match backed up the compliment. ESPN reported that Rodri won 11 duels, more than France’s midfielders managed combined with seven. He completed 87% of his passes, made four tackles and recovered possession twice.
Spain’s command was so complete that goalkeeper Unai Simón had little to do. Pedro Porro’s second-half goal settled the contest, finished after a one-two with Dani Olmo, but Rodri had helped start the decisive move by gathering a loose ball outside the France box and keeping the attack alive.
Across the tournament, ESPN reported that no player has recorded more touches than Rodri’s 794, completed more passes than his 655 or played more line-breaking passes than his 106.
De la Fuente never doubted him
Spain’s run has come in a tournament where major names have filled the Golden Boot race. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane sit as the top five, according to ESPN.
Spain’s case has been built more on balance than one headline scorer, and De la Fuente has been blunt about where he thinks his team stands. After beating France, he said Spain had faced one of the world’s best national teams, but added: “They were up against the best team in the world.”
De la Fuente also pushed back against doubts over Rodri’s level after the injury. “Questioning Rodri was insulting intelligence,” he said after the France match, according to ESPN. The Spain coach said Rodri fits his team’s style because he plays with few touches, gives the side balance and wins the ball back repeatedly.
Earlier in the tournament, after Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 following criticism over a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, De la Fuente called Rodri “nothing short of spectacular” and said Spain were lucky to have him.
Spain now face Argentina on Sunday. For Rodri, a World Cup trophy would complete a comeback that began with uncertainty and has returned him to the heart of the biggest match in football.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.