Rodri: 'I want to thank myself' after World Cup glory
Rodri wins the World Cup Golden Ball as Spain defeat Argentina, completing his remarkable comeback from a serious ACL injury.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
Spain captain Rodri has revealed his disbelief after leading his nation to World Cup glory at the 2026 tournament. For the 30-year-old, the victory marked the culmination of an arduous recovery process following an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in September 2024.
Beyond captaining his side to the trophy, the midfielder was officially named the tournament's best player, securing the Golden Ball ahead of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. Reflecting on the mental resilience required to return to the top, he noted:
I want to thank all the people that helped me. But I want to thank myself, to be honest, in those moments. Rodri
The 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina also saw Spain set a new international unbeaten record of 38 matches. Rodri credited the squad's maturity, which he believes has grown significantly since their success at the European Championship in Berlin two years prior.
This triumph marks Spain's second men's World Cup title, following their 2010 victory. Under the guidance of Luis de la Fuente, the team displayed exceptional defensive discipline, conceding only one goal throughout the campaign while maintaining their trademark possession-based philosophy.