Rodri thanks himself after Golden Ball triumph as Spain captain reflects on remarkable World Cup comeback

Rodri has described Spain’s World Cup triumph as a surreal moment after completing one of football’s most remarkable comebacks from injury.

The Manchester City midfielder captained La Roja to a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final before being crowned the tournament’s best player, capping an extraordinary return from the serious knee injury that threatened to derail his career.

Rodri completes stunning comeback

The Spain captain admitted he was still struggling to process what his team had achieved after lifting the World Cup trophy.

Rodri suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September 2024, shortly before winning the Ballon d’Or, forcing him through months of rehabilitation before returning to the highest level.

His performances throughout the tournament earned him the prestigious Golden Ball ahead of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.

“We’re a bit shocked right now, even myself,” Rodri said.

“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.”

‘I want to thank myself’

While Rodri acknowledged the people who helped him recover, he also reserved special praise for his own resilience during the darkest moments of rehabilitation.

The 30-year-old revealed the message he delivered to his teammates before Spain defeated Argentina in the final.

“Of course, sometimes things go well, things go wrong, but always the positiveness,” he explained.

“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.”

Spain continue making history

Rodri’s inspirational leadership helped Spain secure their second World Cup title while also establishing a new international football record.

The victory over Argentina extended La Roja’s unbeaten run to 38 matches, surpassing Italy’s previous world record.

The midfielder believes the team’s continued growth since winning Euro 2024 has been the defining factor behind their latest success.

“I think the gap of improvement from the Euros, it was the way this team is matured,” Rodri said.

“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.

“And we managed to play all of them, so I think we grow in this sense and this talks about a generation that is making history for our country, as you can see, but also in the way we did it.”

Final verdict

Rodri’s journey from a career-threatening knee injury to World Cup-winning captain and Golden Ball recipient stands among the greatest comeback stories in international football.

By leading Spain to another historic triumph, the Manchester City midfielder not only cemented his place among the game’s elite but also reinforced his reputation as the heartbeat of one of the finest national teams of the modern era.