City have wished Rodri well ahead of tonight’s World Cup final, posting a short message of support as their captain prepares to face Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
It caps a remarkable turnaround for a player who tore his ACL in September 2024 and missed most of City’s troubled title defence as a result.
Rodri has been central to Spain’s run through this tournament, with head coach Luis de la Fuente crediting him as the side’s midfield “backbone” after their 2-0 semi-final win over France — a performance built on Rodri and Fabián Ruiz shutting down France’s front three almost entirely.
Spain have conceded just once across the whole competition, a defensive record that owes plenty to the man City fans have watched anchor their midfield for years.
The final itself pits Rodri against Lionel Messi’s Argentina, and he’s already flagged that tonight will be a different test to the one Spain passed against France — more physical, and with an Argentina side well versed in disrupting rhythm through niggling fouls. Rodri has called for ambition over anxiety from his teammates as they chase Spain’s second World Cup title.
Whatever the result, it’s a massive night for a player City supporters watched fight back from a serious injury — and a final worth their attention regardless of the shirt they’re used to seeing him in. C’mon Rodri.
