‘When you go down, you can rise again’ – Rodri reflects after Spain win World Cup | OneFootball

Rodri says he hopes younger players take motivation from how he overcame serious injury to lift the World Cup trophy with Spain.

The midfielder, who also won the World Cup Golden Ball award for being the tournament’s best player, helped his side to overcome Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the World Cup.

It has been a long road back to his best for Rodri, who suffered a serious knee injury back in September 2024 and has had to endure several injury setbacks since then,

“We’re a bit shocked right now, even myself,” Rodri told Fox Sports after Spain’s World Cup final win. “I cannot express with words. I think now we’re like in a cloud but, for me, it’s been a very tough time.

“I just want the new generations to see my example as an opportunity. When you go down, you can rise again. This is my philosophy for my entire life.

“Of course, sometimes things go well, things go wrong, but always the positiveness.

“I said to the lads before the game, ‘we have to go for the game.’ We need to face them, we have to look to their eyes. We want this game.

“And then life gives you the World Cup or not, but we were brave and I was brave in that moment I was down, so I want to thank all the people that helped me.

“But I want to thank myself, to be honest, in those moments.”