Why Are Fans Saying Rodri Has ‘Completed Football’ After Spain’s FIFA World Cup Win?
With Spain beating Argentina 1-0 and lifting their first World Cup title since 2010, the Manchester City midfielder has finally won it all in football.
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Rodri with the Golden Ball (via Imagn)
Fans have hailed Spain captain Rodri as having “completed football” after winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Golden Ball.
The 30-year-old midfielder guided Spain to a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the final on Sunday in New Jersey. The result gave Spain its first World Cup title since 2010.
For the unversed, Rodri was also named the tournament’s best player, becoming the first Spanish winner of the Golden Ball since the award was introduced in 1978.
His latest success added the biggest international trophy to an already impressive collection of honors. Rodri has won the World Cup, European Championship, UEFA Nations League, UEFA Champions League, Premier League and Ballon d’Or.
He is now only the fourth men’s player to win the World Cup, Euros, Champions League and Ballon d’Or, with Gerd Muller, Franz Beckenbauer and Zinedine Zidane being the other players to achieve the feat.
That combination of major international and club honors has led fans to say Rodri has “completed football.” His performances also played a central role in Spain’s run to the title. Rodri featured in all eight of Spain’s matches at the tournament. He completed 756 passes, the most by a player in a single World Cup edition since records began in 1966.
The Manchester City midfielder also led the tournament for touches with 910, passes in the opposition half with 428 and line-breaking passes with 122. He completed 76 of those line-breaking passes in the final third. Rodri completed 101 passes in the final. Only Spain defender Pau Cubarsi, who completed 121, recorded more.
Rodri’s World Cup triumph was earned after recovering from a difficult ACL injury
Rodri’s World Cup success came less than two years after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September 2024. The injury ended his 2024-25 season and limited his involvement during the following campaign. He made 33 appearances for Manchester City across all competitions but also dealt with further injury setbacks.
Rodri said his recovery required patience and that returning to his previous level involved a long process. He also explained that he had to manage his playing time carefully and decide when to stop playing to prepare properly for the World Cup.
The midfielder’s return to his best form came after a difficult period that raised questions about whether he could reach the level he had shown before the injury. He ultimately returned to the Spain squad and played a key role in the country’s World Cup triumph.
Rodri’s future at Manchester City remains uncertain, with one year left on his contract. His World Cup victory and Golden Ball have now added another major achievement to a career that includes the biggest honors in international and club football.
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