The semi-final against France was perhaps the most complete performance of his career with the national team. Rodri was not limited to the role of defensive midfielder. He was the organizer, the balancer, the first creator and at the same time the last defensive barrier of the “Furia Roja”. Every attack by Spain passed through his feet, every attempt by the French to develop found his own footballing intelligence in front of it.

Luis de la Fuente built his entire game plan around his captain. With Rodri acting as the sole defensive midfielder in front of the two centre-backs, Spain neutralized the speed of Mbappe, Dembele, Olise and Barcola, blocked the lanes and deprived France of their greatest offensive weapon: space.

At the same time, the Manchester City midfielder was the starting point for almost every organized attack by the Spanish side. With a clear mind, impeccable spatial awareness and excellent passing, he set the pace of the match without the need for spectacular actions. This is the essence of Rodri's football. He does not impress with exaggeration. He dominates with simplicity.

It is no coincidence that Pep Guardiola had predicted last autumn that the best version of the Spanish midfielder would appear at the World Cup, once he had finally put the injury behind him. The Catalan coach's prediction is confirmed in the most emphatically way, as Rodri is developing into the reference point of the Spanish national team and the natural leader of a team that is now one step away from the top of the world.

The explosion of his odds in international betting markets for the Golden Ball is no coincidence. It reflects the reality that the entire football planet is watching. His appearances at the World Cup have once again raised his value on the football "stock market", dynamically bringing him back into the discussion for the greatest individual distinction.

If Spain completes its mission by winning the World Cup, then Rodri will not just have added another trophy to his collection. He will have created an almost irresistible argument to lift the Ballon d'Or again, confirming that modern football is not dominated by those who score goals, but by those who have the ability to control the entire game with a single move, a single pass, a single idea. And if the award does eventually return to his hands, it will not be just a personal vindication. It will be the ultimate recognition that Rodri is the footballer who teaches that true leadership does not make noise. It is imposed silently, but remains indelible in history.