NEW YORK - Spain captain Rodri urged his teammates to take a no-fear approach into Sunday's World Cup final against defending champion Argentina, describing the match as a career-defining moment for both sides.
The game will pit the reigning European champion against an Argentina side that is aiming to become the first back-to-back World Cup winner since Brazil in 1962.
"Our main goal from the start was to be here," Rodri said ahead of Sunday's match at New York New Jersey Stadium. "Our goal was to win the trophy, and we were convinced we could do it. We've shown we're able to beat great opponents, and now we face the toughest one yet. I told my teammates that our eagerness to win needs to be greater than our fear of losing."
Rodri's decorated career includes a UEFA Champions League trophy and four Premier League titles with Manchester City as well as the 2024 UEFA European Championship with Spain.
On a personal level, he won the 2024 Ballon d'Or and was named the best player at Euro 2024. But the one trophy still missing from his collection is the World Cup, and the midfielder is out to change that.
"I think the biggest thing you can achieve is becoming world champion," the 30-year-old said. "To achieve this you have to have the right mindset, and that's the missing challenge for us. I'm happy with my career, but there's also that extra ambition that makes you want to keep winning."
Spain has conceded just one goal in the tournament so far and earned a place in the final after a 2-0 victory over France. Argentina has won all of its seven games at the World Cup and boasts the competition's most prolific attack with 19 goals.
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Lionel Messi has had a direct involvement in 12 of those, scoring eight times and providing four assists as he seeks to add another trophy to his long list of career achievements.
Rodri did not hide his respect for the 39-year-old Argentina captain, but warned that he wasn't the only player capable of hurting Spain on Sunday.
"It goes beyond words what Messi means as a player, and what he means for Argentina," Rodri said. "For me, he's the greatest ever. But Argentina is far more than Messi. They've proven they're a very good team with top players. I think we've both shown we're the two best teams. We have to be mindful of Leo, but Argentina has many other players too."
Rodri said he was growing into the role as the national team captain, and revealed he had sought advice from some of his predecessors.
"I'm now captain, and I'm learning from past captains what it means," he said. "It's complex - you have to work at it, because your teammates look to you as a role model in tougher moments. That's a step I've had to take. Other than that, we haven't changed much from the team that won the Euros."
