Podbit · The Rest Is Football
Messi almost certainly played his last game for Argentina in this final. The panel felt for him — but agreed the embrace between him and Spain's young stars may be one of football's truly iconic images, a passing of the torch to the next generation.
Where this was said
At 19:08 · chapter starts 17:35
With the World Cup in the trophy cabinet, Gary Lineker steps back to place Spain's success in historical perspective: they had won just one major tournament before their modern era — Euro 1964 — and have since won 5 of the last 10 [1] — Gary Lineker "Fabian Ruiz 50 caps, 0 losses: Fabián Ruiz has played 50 games for Spain and has never been on the losing side in any of them." 18:20 . The panel agree this makes them the undisputed team of the century. The conversation then turns to Fabián Ruiz, and the stat that stops everyone in their tracks: 50 caps for Spain, not a single defeat [2] — Gary Lineker "Before their modern era, Spain had won just one major tournament — Euro 1964. Since then, they've won 5 of the last 10. They are, without q…" 17:35 . Alan Shearer and Joe Cole had actually been discussing it in the car on the way to the studio, trying to work out whether it included substitute appearances. It does — full caps. Joe Cole asks whether Ruiz might be the most underrated player in world football: at PSG, the conversation around him is secondary to other names, and yet he has a Champions League, a Euros, and now a World Cup medal. Gary Lineker agrees the World Cup win will change that perception permanently.
Before their modern era, Spain had won just one major tournament — Euro 1964. Since then, they've won 5 of the last 10. They are, without question, the team of this century.
Spain have won 5 of the last 10 major international tournaments, having won just 1 (Euro 1964) before their modern era of dominance.
Fabián Ruiz has played 50 games for Spain without ever losing. He also has a Champions League and now a World Cup. Joe Cole asked whether he might be the most underrated player in world football — and it's hard to argue against.
Fabián Ruiz has played 50 games for Spain and has never been on the losing side in any of them.
Thomas's wife deferred her CrossFit career — she's in the global top 1% of athletes — to put him through law school debt-free. He wants her to chase the dream now; she wants the emergency fund and house down payment first. On a $200K lawyer income with no debt, the opportunity cost is just a few months of slower saving.
Underground calisthenics battles are exactly like UFC meets a rap battle — 150 people crowded around a circle, fighters walking out with masks and chains, nicknames like 'Extra Money' vs 'Calisthenics the Prince,' and people throwing money and betting. The battle set: 100 burpees, 50 muscle-ups, 75 dips, 75 squats with a 65-pound dumbbell. This is the next big spectator sport.
Rico Verhoeven controlled the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion for approximately 10 rounds — and had his appeal upheld when officials admitted the fight was stopped after the bell. The result was never overturned. Rogan calls it either incompetence or corruption, and argues the money behind Usyk made an upset politically inconvenient.
Rogan lays out a blunt case: boxing's 3-judge system is structurally broken, and the judges know who the promoter wants to win. Glory's 5-judge format is the right model. Corruption doesn't have to be conscious — just knowing Usyk is the cash cow is enough to tilt the scales.
With the Usyk-Wilder fight stalling and Fury-Joshua coming too late, the real fight the world wants is the rematch. Rico is a free agent. Usyk vacated his belts. The story is unfinished and both Rogan and Rico know it. His Excellency Turki Alasheikh already called for it ringside — the question is money.
Rico texted Jason Statham during the Canelo-Crawford fight. Statham showed Rico's highlight videos to promoters. Two days later, Rico was on a call about fighting Anthony Joshua. When Joshua pulled out, Rico pitched Usyk himself — Undisputed vs. Undisputed. Usyk said yes in two weeks. The whole thing started with one text.
Every heavyweight who faced Usyk tried to move to the right — straight into his power hand. Rico and Peter Fury identified the obvious solution: move left, away from the left hand, and smother him with size. It sounds simple. Nobody had done it. That one adjustment was the foundation of 10 dominant rounds.
MMA fans boo when fights go to the ground. They love stand-up. Kickboxing is pure stand-up. Yet it barely exists in America while boxing and MMA are enormous. Rogan's diagnosis: no promotion machine. If the UFC got behind kickboxing the way they've built MMA, it would explode. The talent is there — the storytelling machine is not.
A nation of 17 million people gave the world Ramon Deckers, Peter Aerts, Badr Hari, Melvin Manhoef, Rob Kamen, Ernesto Hoost, and Rico Verhoeven. Rico's theory: the country is so small that every gym shares knowledge freely. In the US, you need a flight. In Holland, you drive 40 minutes and spar the national champion.
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