When Spain were held to a goalless draw by Cape Verde in their World Cup opener, Rodri found himself at the centre of the criticism. Detractors claimed he had been too slow in circulation, suggesting he bore some responsibility for the disappointing result. His manager, Luis de la Fuente, was having none of it.

"It seems incredibly insulting to me that people would say that about the best player in the world," de la Fuente said. "Would people dare say that about others considered the best? But because he's Spanish, we say things about our own that we wouldn't about others. Rodri is the best player in the world. Even at 50 per cent, he is better than most other midfielders. He brings clarity, vision, balance. Rodri is an inspiration for us."

Six weeks and six consecutive victories later, that opening-night controversy feels like a distant memory. Spain are in the World Cup final, and their captain has been the engine driving every step of the journey.

Guardiola's remarkable prediction

The 30-year-old arrived at the tournament carrying the weight of a difficult domestic season — a campaign shaped by the lingering effects of his anterior cruciate ligament injury from the previous year. Yet Pep Guardiola, in October, had seen exactly how this story would unfold.

"I said to him, and he maybe struggled to understand, it's not about six, seven, eight months out, then playing and being the Rodri of before. No. Do you know when Rodri will be good? At the World Cup with Spain. At the World Cup he will be the best Rodri."

Those words now read as prophetic. Rodri heads into Sunday's final against Argentina having completed 655 passes — the most by any player at a World Cup on record. He has been at the heart of a Spain side that have averaged 64 per cent possession throughout the tournament, and he alone has racked up roughly 20 per cent more touches and completed roughly 20 per cent more passes than any other individual player at the tournament.

Numbers that tell the story

His 62 line-breaking passes in the final third match the tally Toni Kroos registered for Germany on their way to winning the 2026 — sorry, the 2014 — World Cup, making it the highest such figure recorded at a World Cup since that German triumph. Only winger Alex Baena has created more chances among the Spain squad.

Defensively, Rodri has been equally imposing. He has recorded the second-most tackles at the tournament and ranks among the leaders for possessions won in the middle and final thirds. In Tuesday's semi-final against France — a side that matched Spain closely in overall possession — Rodri won 11 out of 15 individual duels, including all four aerial contests.

Spain have conceded just one goal across seven matches, a defensive record Rodri's relentless off-the-ball work has helped to underpin.

"Every time you see him, he's always showing up for the ball," said former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel on The Rest Is Football. "It doesn't matter whether he makes a mistake, he's always available."

A leader on and off the pitch

Those who coached Rodri in his formative years are unsurprised by his resurgence. Paco Lopez, who managed him at Villarreal's B team, told Sky Sports: "He stood out for his intelligence as a footballer, but also because he was very clear about how a young player should behave. A lot of boys can get distracted, but he always understood what was required to become a professional."

That professionalism has translated into 627 minutes played out of a possible 630 at this World Cup — a figure that speaks volumes about his physical condition and mental dedication after such a significant injury.

Off the pitch, questions linger about his club future. Rodri has just one year remaining on his contract at Manchester City, who appear to have identified Elliot Anderson — signed from Nottingham Forest for £116 million — as his long-term replacement. For now, though, none of that matters. One more win stands between Rodri and a World Cup winner's medal, and on the form he has shown over these past five weeks, few would bet against him lifting the trophy on Sunday.