Quote · The Rest Is Football
Spain win the World Cup as Rodri reigns supreme
Where this was said
Rodri — Golden Ball Winner and Possibly the Greatest Ever
At 17:25 · chapter starts 14:41
Gary Lineker announces Rodri as the Golden Ball winner and recalls how Pep Guardiola had flagged before the tournament that fans would see the best Rodri they had ever seen — a prediction now fully vindicated [1] — Joe Cole "Rodri moves like a number 10 but stands 6'4" and is built like a giant. He shifts the ball so quickly that commentators can't even say his …" 14:57 . Joe Cole reaches for the Ray Wilkins quote: Rodri moves the ball so quickly that commentators don't even have time to say his name, acting as the ultimate foundation for attacking players — first touch, bang, the ball is gone. He is enormous physically, over six feet tall, yet moves with the agility of a number 10. The panel discuss how he checks his shoulders constantly, always aware of where players are around him — a habit Cole says he developed playing against Patrick Vieira as a young player needing to compensate for his own slight build. The boldest take comes from Cole: Rodri has now surpassed Busquets as the greatest holding midfielder of all time. Before the tournament, Cole was hesitant to put Rodri above Busquets. After watching this World Cup, there's no debate left [2] — Gary Lineker "Rodri came back from a serious ACL injury to win Player of the Tournament. Pep Guardiola had already told the world to expect the best Rodr…" 14:41 .
Rodri won the Golden Ball (Player of the Tournament) after returning from a serious ACL injury, with Pep Guardiola predicting before the tournament he would show his best ever form.
Rodri came back from a serious ACL injury to win Player of the Tournament. Pep Guardiola had already told the world to expect the best Rodri they'd ever seen at this World Cup. He was right. The Golden Ball confirms it.
Rodri moves like a number 10 but stands 6'4" and is built like a giant. He shifts the ball so quickly that commentators can't even say his name — and Joe Cole believes he's now better than Busquets, the man previously considered the gold standard in the position.
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.
