ARLINGTON, Texas — Spanish midfielder Rodri delivered what many are calling a midfield masterclass against France on Tuesday evening, recapturing the elite-level form that earned him the 2024 Ballon d’Or and steering Spain into the World Cup final with a commanding 2-0 victory.
The performance was especially significant given what Rodri has been through. Twenty-two months ago, he tore his cruciate ligament during a Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal, a collision involving Thomas Partey that sidelined the 30-year-old for an extended stretch. Tuesday’s semifinal proved to be the ideal stage for him to remind the world just how good he can be.
“Step by step, one step further,” Rodri said following the final whistle. “The team is elated. It’s the second time we’ve reached a final, and we need to stay calm and get some rest.”
Throughout the tournament, there had been growing signs that Rodri was gradually returning to the standard that made him so vital to Manchester City’s dominance of both English and European football — including their historic treble-winning 2022-23 campaign. But it was against France that he truly looked like himself again, echoing the form that fueled a remarkable unbeaten streak of 74 consecutive matches for Pep Guardiola’s side, stretching from February 2023 to May 2024.
Rodri served as the centerpiece of a disciplined Spain performance that completely neutralized a French attack that many had expected to dazzle. Forming a tight defensive triangle alongside Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi, Rodri consistently denied Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise the room they needed to threaten Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon.
In fact, Simon was never called upon to make a single save — a testament to how effectively Rodri and his defensive partners shut down France’s offensive threats before they could develop. Time and again, Rodri stepped in to strip the ball from Dembele or funnel Mbappe into dead ends with nowhere to go.
France’s frustration was evident early. Coach Didier Deschamps pulled the struggling Adrien Rabiot from the match at halftime in an attempt to shift the midfield battle in his team’s favor, but the change failed to produce the desired result.
Meanwhile, Rodri’s passing kept France pinned back, as he consistently moved the ball wide to fullbacks Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro. He covered more than 12.5 kilometers over the course of the match — a testament to his relentless work rate.
“Given the characteristics of both teams, you knew one was more explosive and the other more possession-oriented,” Rodri reflected after the match. “The support from the full-backs — from the whole team — has been sensational.”
Spain now advances to the World Cup final, their first appearance on that stage since they lifted the trophy back in 2010.
