Rodri, the rock of Spain's midfield, hopes that young generations can benefit from his experience in overcoming adversity after winning the FIFA World Cup title on Sunday to complete his collection of major trophies, less than two years after suffering a knee ligament tear. The 30-year-old Manchester City midfielder was named the tournament's best player, joining football legends such as Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, and Zinedine Zidane as the only men to win the World Cup, European Championship with their national teams, the European Cup/UEFA Champions League with their club, and the Ballon d'Or. This achievement was even more remarkable because he entered the tournament still seeking to regain the outstanding form that earned him the highest individual prize in football in 2024, after helping Spain win the European Championship and leading his club City to a record-breaking 74-match unbeaten streak with him in the lineup.

After receiving the FIFA Best Player of the Tournament award, which has been called the 'Golden Ball', causing some confusion, he said: 'It feels like a perfect scenario, I certainly didn't expect this. I want young generations to see that a player who reaches the top and then falls can come back again. It's a lesson in overcoming adversity.'

Rodri may be the most influential player in Spain's squad, but the team relies primarily on collective play. Rodri praised his teammates for the way they continued to perform their task against a resilient Argentina team until they finally achieved a 1-0 victory with a goal scored by Ferran Torres in the second half of extra time.

He said: 'This is the secret of the national team. We will always fight for you, and in the end we were brave. We are at the peak of happiness. This team is amazing. We won the World Cup twice. This was the toughest tournament in World Cup history. We defeated a great Argentina team, which includes Lionel Messi, the best player in history.'

Despite the difficulty of the final, Rodri had no doubt that his team deserved to follow in the footsteps of the 2010 champions in South Africa by winning the game's biggest prize. He said: 'Argentina as world champions didn't create many chances, but it's difficult to break through their defense. Spain is simply an excellent team, and in the end the result was fair.'