Lionel Messi gets the plaudits but Spain have the real player of the tournament | OneFootball

To quote Rio Ferdinand, “Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or!”.

Although Ferdinand’s most infamously unilluminating piece of punditry was actually about Vinicius Junior, who didn’t win the Ballon d’Or, as Rodri instead did.

Two years and one cruciate ligament injury later, Rodri’s return to the level that made him the Ballon d’Or winner with a difference could be crowned with a new status: World Cup-winning captain. If not him, it will, once again, be Lionel Messi.

And if the Spaniard will have part of the responsibility for shutting down the Argentine, their duel in New York can seem part of a wider clash of philosophies. In the United States, with its culture of individualism, this World Cup has seemed about individuals: Messi, Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, even Vinicius. The battle for the Golden Boot has been dominated by football’s rich and famous.

Then there is Rodri, whose tournament has produced no goals and no assists, whose role is altogether more unglamorous, but who is serving as the reminder it is actually a team game. So far, Spain have been the best team and Rodri has been their most influential player.

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Rodri has been Spain’s most influential player at the World Cup 2026 (Getty)

That more indirect impact is reflected in other ways. Rodri has made the most passes in this World Cup. So, in Spain’s victorious campaign of 2010, did Xavi. The former Barcelona player completed 93 per cent of his passes then, just as the current Manchester City man has done now.

The more direct comparison is with Sergio Busquets, the midfield fulcrum from 16 years ago. Indeed, when Busquets and Rodri played together in the 2022 World Cup, it was with the younger man at centre-back; on a day when Spanish possession football felt at its most pointless, he attempted 223 passes in their last-16 exit to Morocco. But when Busquets’ international career ended, Rodri could then anchor the midfield.

And arguably the inheritor of Xavi’s mantle was Pedri, the Catalan passer who has lost his place to Fabian Ruiz. But if this Spain side, while sharing a similar ethos, as not quite as possession obsessed as the class of 2010, the first part of the defensive midfielder’s job title is instructive.

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Rodri's control could hand Spain the advantage over Argentina (Getty)

Spain have been much the best defensive side, conceding only one goal, to Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere. That Unai Simon has only made 14 saves, an average of two per game, is an indication of how well he has been protected. An expected goals against figure of just 0.3 per 90 minutes is remarkable: still more so that, against France’s feared attack, Spain replicated their mean tournament display, conceding two shots on target and allowing 0.3 xG.

Rodri kept Michael Olise quiet then, which in turn limited the supply to Mbappe. And if the nature of the job means he cannot do it alone, a towering presence can operate at the heart of a unit that works, either by keeping the ball or by denying opponents chances. One way or another, they exerted control. Rodri, with his authority, can be the king of control.

The Rodri formula may be working again. When City won the Champions League in 2023 they conceded three goals in seven knockout games. When Spain, given a fearsomely tough route, won Euro 2024, it was by conceding just four times in seven matches.

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Rodri and Pau Cubarsi of Spain interact during the training session (Getty)

Rodri got the ultimate glory in 2023, scoring City’s Champions League final goal. He did not as much in 2024, forced off at half-time in the final, replaced by Martin Zubimendi. That was a sign of Spain’s strength in depth; another is that Zubimendi is yet to play a minute in this World Cup. Rodri has played all bar three.

Nico Williams came on for him for the closing stages of the draw with Cape Verde. That represented a false start to Spain’s World Cup. Rodri was criticised. So it is worth revisiting manager Luis de la Fuente’s words then. “Rodri is the best player in the world,” he said. “Even at 50 per cent, he is better than most other midfielders in the world. He brings clarity, vision, balance. Rodri is an inspiration for us.”

They ring truer now, even if it is safe to say Rodri has been operating at rather more than half of his capabilities in Spain’s subsequent six matches. There are times in the last 14 months, however, when he has been nearer 50 per cent of the player he was, when the thought has occurred that he would never be the same again after a knee injury of such severity.

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Lionel Messi up against Rodri during their time at Barcelona and Atletico Madrid respectively (Getty)

There have been glimpses of his best: when City beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, Liverpool in the FA Cup and Chelsea in the Premier League in three consecutive games in March and April, he was terrific. Yet City only saw that Rodri fitfully during the season.

Spain have seen it more consistently in the World Cup. Given Fifa’s fondness for more eye-catching contributions, perhaps it is unsurprising he has only won one man-of-the-match award, for the last-16 win over Portugal. And yet if he can keep Messi quiet and Spain can overcome Argentina, he may be the real player of the tournament.