Rodri gave one of the greatest performances of his career in the match against France, leading Spain to a historic performance at the World Cup.
The Manchester City midfielder was criticised after the tournament opener against Cape Verde, with some calling for Martin Zubimendi to be brought on in his place. But Spain coach Luis de la Fuente continued to believe in him and publicly defended his player.
"It's insulting to say that about the best player in the world. He's the best, even if he only plays at 50 percent of his capacity," De la Fuente had declared.
The coach's faith was rewarded. Rodri got the minutes and pace he needed to return to his best version, the one that had led him to win the Ballon d'Or.
Historical records in the World Cup
Rodri's performances at the tournament have produced some incredible statistics. The Spanish midfielder has completed 655 passes with an accuracy of 93 percent, setting the record for the most correct passes by a player in a single World Cup since 1966.
For comparison, Sergio Busquets completed 530 passes during seven matches at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
But Rodri's impact has not been limited to statistics.
Total dominance over France
In the semi-final against France, Rodri controlled the midfield against world-class players like Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot and Manu Kone.
He covered 12,628 kilometers during the match, won 11 duels and was one of the main factors that Spain dominated the game from start to finish.
The Manchester City midfielder helped the defense, created outlets for the opposition's pressure and gave De la Fuentes' team the composure to control the pace of the game.
After the match, big names in football praised his performance. Zlatan Ibrahimovic called him a world-class player, while Thierry Henry stressed that Rodri is the "brain" of Spain and the player who controls the rhythm of the team.
Ballon d'Or candidacy returns
Rodri's exceptional form at the World Cup has put him back in the running for the most prestigious individual award in football.
After recent performances, the Spaniard is once again considered one of the main favorites for the Ballon d'Or, establishing himself among the biggest names in world football.
The World Cup final could determine not only the winner of the trophy, but also the player who will be crowned with the most important individual award. And Rodri, after a spectacular comeback, is once again in the spotlight.
