Rodri admits he is still struggling to take in Spain's World Cup triumph after captaining his country to victory over Argentina and being named the tournament's best player.
The Manchester City midfielder completed another remarkable chapter in his career by lifting football's biggest prize before collecting the prestigious Golden Ball following Spain's 1-0 extra-time victory in the final.
Rodri: "I cannot express it with words"
Speaking after Spain's historic triumph, Rodri admitted the emotions of the past five weeks had yet to sink in.
"We're a bit shocked right now, even myself."
"I cannot express it with words. I think now we're like in a cloud, but for me it's been a very tough time."
The midfielder also reflected on the long road back from the serious ACL injury he suffered while playing for Manchester City in September 2024.
Rather than focusing solely on the trophy, Rodri described the World Cup as proof that setbacks can be overcome through resilience and determination.
"When you go down, you can rise again. This is my philosophy for my entire life."
Emotional recovery after injury
Rodri admitted there were difficult moments during his rehabilitation but believes the experience ultimately made him stronger.
He revealed he thanked not only the people who supported him during his recovery, but also himself for maintaining belief throughout the process.
"I want to thank all the people that helped me."
"But I want to thank myself, to be honest, in those moments."
The 30-year-old's return from a long-term knee injury has culminated in one of the greatest individual seasons of his career.
Spain's maturity key to World Cup success
Rodri believes Spain's development since winning the European Championship was the defining factor behind their success in the United States.
According to the captain, the squad matured through facing different styles of opponents and adapting to a variety of tactical challenges throughout the tournament.
"The gap of improvement from the Euros was the way this team matured."
"We managed to play all of them, so I think we grew in this sense."
What's next?
Rodri will now enjoy a well-earned break before returning to Manchester City ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
After overcoming a career-threatening injury to captain Spain to World Cup glory, the midfielder returns to club football with yet another major honour added to an already extraordinary list of achievements.
Is Rodri now the world's best midfielder after leading Spain to World Cup glory and winning the Golden Ball?
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