Rodri has taken Spain to the World Cup final with control, calm and an extraordinary passing volume that has pushed the debate over the Best Football Player In The World firmly in his direction. By the time of Sunday’s final against Argentina, the Spain midfielder had completed 655 passes at the tournament, the most by any player at a World Cup on record.
That figure matters because it reflects more than simple retention. Spain have built their run on collective control and heavy possession, with Rodri at the centre of almost everything they do in midfield. They entered the final having won six straight games and conceding only one goal in seven matches, a record that shows how much their balance has depended on his authority.
Why Rodri’s influence has grown through the tournament
The story of Rodri’s World Cup did not begin smoothly. On Spain’s first game, a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, he faced criticism. But over the next five weeks the picture changed completely as Spain settled into a rhythm that made Rodri the central passing outlet and the team’s organising force.
Luis de la Fuente has been among those strongest in his praise. He said it seemed “incredibly insulting” to suggest otherwise, calling Rodri “the best player in the world.” He added that, even at 50 per cent, Rodri is better than most other midfielders because of the clarity, vision and balance he brings.
That is the key point. Spain do not need Rodri to dominate in spectacular fashion every minute. They need him to make the game simple, connect the lines and keep them stable when the pressure rises. In tournament football, that kind of control can be worth as much as a goal.
Pep Guardiola’s prediction looks increasingly accurate
Pep Guardiola had already hinted that this moment was coming. In October, he said Rodri would be at his best at the World Cup with Spain, predicting that after a long spell out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, the tournament would be where the midfielder rediscovered his top level.
That forecast now looks very close to reality. Rodri suffered that injury in the previous campaign, and this has been a difficult return to form after a demanding domestic season. Yet at the World Cup he has looked composed and decisive, the kind of player Spain can always find when the game starts to tighten.
John Obi Mikel has made the same point from a different angle, saying that every time you see Rodri, he is showing up for the ball, and that it does not matter whether he makes a mistake because he is always available. That availability is a major part of his value. Big tournaments are often decided by the player who keeps asking for the ball when others hide.
Rodri’s numbers tell their own story. He has made 655 passes, including 62 line-breaking passes, across seven games, while Spain’s possession base has given him the platform to dictate. Add in his one goal and the sense grows that this is not just a holding midfielder’s tournament, but a captain’s tournament.
With Argentina waiting in the final at 8pm, Spain know the control Rodri provides will again be central. If they win, it will be because their structure held, their passing stayed sharp and their midfield leader kept the game moving in the right direction. That is why the case for the Best Football Player In The World is being made so strongly around him right now.
