Rodri: Our goal is to win the World Cup, and here's my take on Messi

Spain's captain Rodri spoke at the press conference ahead of the 2026 World Cup final against Argentina, affirming that Spain is prepared to handle any scenario that may arise during the match, both physically and tactically.

Rodri stated: "Will the Argentine national team play aggressively? They are a team that always gives their all. If the match starts in a hostile atmosphere, we must ignore that and not get drawn into provocations."

He added: "Does the team that wins the midfield battle win the match? I don't know, but I believe that football often goes through the midfield. We have great midfield players. It won't be the only decisive factor, but it will be important."

He emphasized: "What style of play will you implement? There is no single defined style for a team. We haven't seen Spain itself in all matches. Sunday's match will be different and will feature more individual battles. This team is very complete, and that is what brought us here. And if there is one thing that distinguishes this team, it is its knowledge of how to play at every moment, whether by maintaining possession or relying on counter-attacks."

Regarding the 2010 World Cup Final: "A long time has passed since then, but we can hold on to the mentality that pushed us to go for something that seemed impossible for our country at that time."

He added: "Argentina has a great competitive personality, and this reflects the strength of their character. We take into account the quality of the team we will face. The match may go through many circumstances, but we must go for the win and be ourselves throughout the game. Reaching consecutive World Cup finals reflects the level of performance they provide. They are the most stable team in recent years, and we are trying to do the same."

Regarding the atmosphere within the national team: "You need a good group and good coexistence. There are a lot of dead times when there isn't much to do, so we help each other for the present and the future."

Reaching consecutive World Cup finals reflects the level of performance they are delivering. They are the most stable national team in recent years, and we are trying to do the same.

Regarding his role as captain of the national team and how he manages the tournament: "I learn from previous leaders. It's not easy, and there’s an aspect you need to work on. Your teammates will look to you in moments of doubt. Other than that, not much has changed; the team is very mature. Now I am the captain, and I am constantly learning, especially from the leaders who came before me. It carries additional responsibility because your teammates watch you in tough moments, and that is true progress. As for everything else, we are still a very mature team."

He added: "I believe Messi needs no introduction as a player, both for Argentina and for football in general. For me, he is the best in history. He led Argentina to victory in the World Cup in Qatar. But Argentina is bigger than Messi; it has players of very high caliber. We are the two teams that play the best collective football."

He stated: "We came to the tournament to win it, and we knew that was possible. Now we will face the most stable national team in recent years. I told the players before the semi-final that we must have the desire to win more than the fear of losing."

Regarding the weaknesses of the Spanish national team: "We manage our area and the opponent's area well, but I will keep some details to myself."

He added: "What would winning the World Cup mean for Spain? We are coming from a gradual growth process. We have seen a team becoming more mature year after year. I said before that this team will make everyone talk about it. The path to the greatest achievement, which is lifting the World Cup, is the path we have walked: first the UEFA Nations League, then the European Championship, and now we have a beautiful challenge ahead to make this generation unforgettable."

He concluded about the importance of fan support: "I believe that support is very important. Matches are decided on the pitch, but we felt our fans' backing throughout our World Cup journey. We trust in our people's support and will give everything we have for them."