Spain captain Rodri has spoken about the remarkable path that took him from a serious knee injury to World Cup success after leading his country to the 2026 title in North America. The Manchester City midfielder captained La Roja to victory over Argentina in the final and was voted the tournament's best player.

The 30-year-old admitted he was overwhelmed after helping Spain lift the trophy, having spent months recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in September 2024. The setback came only weeks before he received the Ballon d'Or.

Rodri's performances throughout the tournament earned him the Golden Ball as the World Cup's outstanding player, finishing ahead of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.

Reflecting on his long road back to the top, Rodri said: "We're a bit shocked right now, even myself. I cannot express with words. I think now we're like in a cloud but, for me, it's been a very tough time."