Overcoming Injury to Become the Greatest 'No. 6': "Even If You Fall, Rise Again!"

[Anchor]

At the heart of Spain's return to the top of the World Cup for the first time in 16 years was their captain, Rodri. After shaking off a long-term injury and even winning the tournament MVP, he has cemented his status as the greatest defensive midfielder in history.

Reporter Hong Seok-jun has the story.

[Reporter]

After contributing to his club Manchester City's 'treble' in 2023 and leading Spain to victory in the European Championship the following year, Rodri soared to new heights by becoming the first defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d'Or, the most prestigious award in world football.

However, in September of that same year, he was sidelined for eight months due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and even after his return, he struggled to find his form.

[Guardiola / Former Manchester City Manager (Last Year): You will see the 'best Rodri' at the North and Central American World Cup. I can guarantee he will be at his most perfect.]

Just as manager Guardiola predicted, he made a spectacular return on the 'dream stage.'

Starting every match, he dominated the midfield with a pass success rate of over 93%, recording a tournament-high 756 passes. He became the first Spaniard and the first defensive midfielder to win the tournament MVP, the Golden Ball. He is also the first outfield player to win the Golden Ball without recording an attacking point.

Following in the footsteps of Messi, Rodri is the second player to achieve a treble, a continental cup title, a World Cup win, and to win both the Ballon d'Or and the Golden Ball. Like the lyrics in the tournament's theme song 'DNA,' he rose again even after falling, standing tall as the greatest defensive midfielder in history.

[Rodri / Captain of the Spain National Football Team: I hope the next generation looks at me and finds hope that 'no matter how many times you fall, you can always rise again.']

France's Kylian Mbappe scored 10 goals in this tournament, becoming the first player in history to win the Golden Boot in two consecutive tournaments. He also became the first player to simultaneously top the scoring charts in his league, the Champions League, and the World Cup in a single season.

Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon won the Golden Glove after recording 650 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal—the longest streak in World Cup history—and the fewest goals conceded in the tournament. Meanwhile, 19-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi became the first Spanish player to win the Young Player Award.

(Video Editing: Jeon Min-gyu, Design: Park Tae-young)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.