Rodri Praises Ronaldo's Legacy After World Cup Exit
Following Spain's qualification to the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, Manchester City midfielder Rodri hailed Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo, who played his last World Cup match, calling him 'an incredible example for the generations to come.'
Ronaldo's record-breaking sixth FIFA World Cup appearance ended in familiar heartbreak. Having debuted in 2006, he leaves the tournament without a title, having scored 11 goals in 27 matches. Despite his club and individual honors, the World Cup is now out of reach, as Ronaldo confirmed this was his last appearance.
Rodri's Tribute to Ronaldo
Speaking as quoted by Athletics, Rodri said: 'We are talking about one of the best players in the history of football, his mentality, the way he understands the game, and to score, it is remarkable. I think his country has to be so proud of him.' He added: 'An incredible example for the generations to come.'
A late strike from Mikel Merino in the 91st minute ended Ronaldo's dream of lifting the World Cup trophy. Ronaldo finished his last World Cup with three goals in five matches, becoming the first player to score in six successive editions and breaking his knockout goal drought against Croatia. With 11 goals, he is Portugal's all-time top scorer in the tournament.
Rodri's Match Assessment
Speaking to TV Espana as quoted by The Athletic, Rodri analyzed the match: 'They (Spain and Portugal) are two very similar teams, who both want to have the ball and show personality. So it was always going to be decided by the small details, as it was. The goal was almost the first time in the whole game that we found that space inside. We can improve that for the next games.'
He added: 'There is still a long way to go, and we can still improve a lot. Now we have to rest well, as the physical side is very important. We are not done yet. But we have to be happy.'
Patience Key Against Portugal
Rodri emphasized the importance of patience, noting that Portugal 'defends very well in a low block and plays on the break.' He said: 'We knew we could not send too many players forward as they could catch us on the counter. We were able to read it perfectly, except for a few times, as they have such high-quality players. I would give the MVP award to Mikel (Oyarzabal), of course, as it is not easy to come in like that, and so often he is the one who makes the difference.'
