Rodri guides Spain past France to World Cup final with midfield masterclass

Spain defeated France 2‑0 in the semi‑final of the 2026 World Cup, securing a place in the tournament final. 30‑year‑old midfielder Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, anchored the Spanish midfield, forming a defensive triangle with Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi that neutralised the French attack. He covered more than 12 km, repeatedly broke up opposition moves and distributed the ball to full‑backs Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro. After the win Rodri said, “Step by step, one step further,” and urged his teammates to “stay calm and get some rest.” The performance marked his full return to pre‑injury form after rupturing his cruciate ligament 22 months earlier, and highlighted his importance to both the national side and Manchester City, where his contract is set to expire in twelve months.

Rodri’s dominance was noted by analysts who described the French midfield as “overmatched,” with Spain’s control of possession and tempo proving decisive. Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise found little space, while Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simón did not face a single shot.