Rodri’s heartbeat leading Spain

In the quiet, frustrating moments of injury — when time slows down and every step hurts more mentally than physically — Rodri Hernández has found his voice again. The midfielder, now back to building minutes, returns to the national team camp as the key figure he is.

“For a footballer, the priority is being physically right. Your level comes with games, with what you’re able to do — but without that physical base, it’s difficult. I needed to stop, recover, treat it like a mini pre-season to be ready for the final stretch. Since January, I’ve been feeling very good.”

The Madrid-born midfielder, fresh off winning the Ballon d’Or, insists nothing has changed:
“I haven’t changed as a person or as a player. I’ll keep aiming for the highest level, keep improving. Maybe in the eyes of others — players, referees, the football world — you’re seen differently. But I stay focused on myself.”

Back in the place where he grew up between 2014 and 2018, Rodri doesn’t hide what it means:
“It makes me really proud. Coming back to a place where you developed, where people recognise you and you feel that love — it’s special. One of the happiest stages of my life. I learned so much there, they gave me everything.”

He even smiles remembering the small details: no car, no licence — just trains and a bike to get around, sometimes racing against time to make training.

Now, his role is different.

“Now I carry a different responsibility with this team — being captain, being the reference for a new generation that has to build its own path.”

As one of the leaders of this Spain side, Rodri looks ahead with belief:
“When you have a group like this, after what we’ve achieved, you feel this generation is ready to compete and be there. There’s so much individual quality, we already know how to win, and there’s a strong belief. A World Cup is different — and that’s something I’ll try to pass on.”