Joshua

Manchester is Blue 💙

[Squawka @Squawka]

No Spanish player has created more chances from open-play at the 2026 World Cup than Rodri (9). 🔑

[Dafidi @Molade87]

I will defend Rodri, KDB, and Aguero with the last drop of blood in my body

[Ryan @bernardooooV3]

Everybody is better than Rodri until they face Rodri. I have never seen anything like this

[OptaJoe @OptaJoe]

655 - Rodri has completed 655 passes at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the most by a player in a single edition on record since 1966.

Artist.

[Joshua @superjxsh]

@Footballtweet @Vampire_2442

[Statman Dave @StatmanDave]

Rodri won more duels by himself (11) than France’s entire midfield (9).

Back to his very best. 🙌

[Ororo😎 @McFlybowy]

This Spain–France game makes everyone understand one thing, elite midfield will always beat elite attack.

People are obsessed with front threes, goals and individual brilliance, but football has never stopped being a game controlled from the middle of the pitch. An elite attack can only be as dangerous as the platform behind it. If your midfield cannot progress the ball consistently, escape pressure, control transitions or dictate the tempo, then even the world’s best forwards will spend most of the game isolated, feeding on scraps. That’s exactly what happened today.

This is why history keeps repeating itself. The teams that dominate eras are almost always the teams with the strongest midfield, not necessarily the strongest attack.

Spain had Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. Real Madrid’s three-peat was built on Kroos, Modric and Casemiro. Manchester City became the best team in Europe because they controlled games through Rodri, De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva. Even Barcelona’s MSN only reached their highest level because Iniesta, Busquets and Rakitic gave them complete control of matches.

People often think football is won in the boxes, but before the ball reaches either box, there’s a battle for territory, possession and control. That battle is fought in midfield.

An elite midfield doesn’t just create chances. It decides the rhythm of the game. It decides whether the game is chaotic or calm. It decides where the ball is played, when attacks begin, how quickly transitions are stopped, and whether the opposition’s stars even get enough touches to influence the match.

That’s why you’ll often see world-class attackers disappear in big games. It isn’t always because they had a poor performance; it’s because the midfield behind them lost control. No striker, winger or No. 10 can consistently dominate when every touch comes under pressure, every pass arrives late, and every attack starts 60 metres from goal.

People say goals win games, but midfields create the conditions for goals to happen.

You can have Mbappe, Haaland, Vinicius, Salah or any elite attacker. If the opposition controls possession, wins second balls, dominates the centre, and dictates the tempo, those attackers become passengers for large parts of the game.

That’s why, if I were building a team from scratch, my biggest investment would always be in midfield first. Elite attacks win moments. Elite midfields win matches. Over the course of a season or an entire tournament the team that consistently controls midfield usually ends up lifting the trophy.

[Alice @AliceTalksFooty]

The outrage I saw online when Rodri done the Ballon d'Or but today again shows that at his best there in no midfielder like him.

Rodri fully fit is best midfielder in world and it hurts to say that as United fan.

[jesse alordiah 44DB 🇳🇴 @jessealordiah]

when you people are ready, you’ll admit that Rodri is the reason why opponents can’t play ball —

no matter how good or hyped they are, he bosses every midfield he’s up against, and he’s not even fully fit ..

completely different class 😂

[og @ogpinions]

anytime Rodri plays against or alongside the best midfielders in the world (Pedri, Vitinha, Rice) he ALWAYS show levels.

the goat DM.

[Joshua @superjxsh]

rodri's motion all over my tl, if he wins the world cup and he wins the ballon d'or
i hope you guys won't come out to cry "robbery" again
enjoy the legend while he's around because you won't get to see another DM like him ever again

[Martin VII @Nedao454]

Rodri btw, this is a proper Ballon D'Or winner, not that bum Dembele. You are witnessing an all timer and you should be grateful for his greatness

[Zito @_Zeets]

Rodri plays like a corrupt politician. He does things with the confidence of a man who has the cops on his payroll.

[Rafael Hernández @RafaelH117]

Every single match Rodri plays there’s bigger proof he deserved that Golden Ball more than anyone else.

[Manchester City @ManCity]

Rodri.

[Joshua @superjxsh]

rodri, i just need you to win the world cup and deliver your second ballon d'or

[! @kaiiesque]

One day you’ll all appreciate what he brings to a team, to the game. But for now you can continue to petition his Ballon D’Or 🤣

[Joshua @superjxsh]

preach brother!
they have nothing on you

[! @kaiiesque]

Rodri will single handedly boss France's midfield, nullify their attack, and win Spain the game

Come back to this

[Joshua @superjxsh]

@jaybeethefourth they have no option

[Joshua @superjxsh]

@FatherCFC @Awakened_1ne brumsss