Manchester City's midfield maestro, Rodri, has reached an unprecedented peak in his illustrious career, adding the coveted World Cup trophy and the tournament's Golden Ball to his extensive collection. The 30-year-old captained Spain to a historic 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday, marking their first triumph since 2010.
This latest success cements Rodri's standing among football's all-time greats. He now joins an elite quartet of players – Gerd Muller, Franz Beckenbauer, and Zinedine Zidane – who have lifted the World Cup, the European Championship, the Champions League, and the Ballon d'Or. His personal accolades already include one European title, one Nations League, four Premier League trophies, and one Champions League, alongside numerous other domestic honours with Manchester City.
Rodri's journey to this pinnacle has been particularly remarkable given a significant setback in 2024. After rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in September 2024, questions arose about his ability to return to the form that saw him clinch the Treble with City in 2023 and the Euros with Spain just a year later. He made 33 appearances for City last season but often appeared to be regaining full fitness, suggesting a patient build-up towards peaking for the World Cup.
Throughout Spain's triumphant World Cup campaign in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Rodri was the undisputed linchpin. He featured in all eight of La Roja's matches, demonstrating unparalleled control and distribution from the midfield. He completed an astounding 756 passes, the highest recorded in a single World Cup edition since 1966. Furthermore, he topped metrics for touches (910), passes in the opposition half (428), and line-breaking passes (122), including 76 in the final third. In the final itself, Rodri completed 101 passes, making him one of only three players since 1966 to achieve over 100 passes in a World Cup final.
Despite his recent triumphs, Rodri's club future is currently a subject of much speculation. With only one year remaining on his contract at Manchester City, reports suggest that Real Madrid, under returning manager Jose Mourinho, are keenly interested in acquiring his services. While new City boss Enzo Maresca would undoubtedly wish to retain such a pivotal player, the contractual situation and Rodri's elevated status as a world champion could lead to a significant transfer saga.