Rodri leads Spain to World Cup final with midfield masterclass

Spain midfielder Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, delivered a dominant performance in the World Cup semi‑final against France on July 14. Twenty‑two months after rupturing his cruciate ligament, the 30‑year‑old anchored a 2‑0 victory that booked Spain’s first final appearance since 2010. Rodri formed an “unbreakable defensive triangle” with Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi, repeatedly denying Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise space in central areas. He covered more than 12 km, switched play to full‑backs Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro, and kept France on the back foot. After the win Rodri said, “Step by step, one step further,” adding that the team must “stay calm and get some rest.” His display was widely hailed as a reminder of his pre‑injury standard and a key factor in Spain’s march to the final.