After leading Manchester City (England) to a triple treble, midfielder Rodri (27-Spain) was named the European Football Association (UEFA) Nations League Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2022-23 season.
Spain defeated Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the tournament final at Stadion Feyenoord in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on Sept. 19.
It is the first time in 11 years that Spain has won an international title since the 2012 European Football Championship (Euro 2012). Spain won its first international title in a long time, bouncing back from a disappointing runner-up finish to France in the final of the 2020-21 season.
The player who shone brightest in the penalty shootout was goalkeeper Unai Simon. He made two crucial super saves to send his team to victory.
After the match, Croatia’s Marcelo Brozovic was named Player of the Match. “Brozovic ran the length of the pitch tirelessly and was a great link in the offense,” UEFA said.
Spain midfielder Rodri was named the tournament’s overall MVP. Rodri didn’t record an offensive point on the day, but he was at his best when it counted, including in the semifinal against Italy. He also stepped up as the second kicker in the penalty shootout and calmly converted.
“Rodri was a crucial cog in the wheel of champions Spain,” UEFA said, “helping them to a 2-1 semi-final win over Italy and rattling the net in the final penalty shootout.”
A key part of Spain’s midfield, Rodríguez has been a top performer for the national team this season after winning the English Premier League (EPL), Football Association (FA) Cup, and UEFA Champions League (UCL) titles with City. 안전놀이터
In the recently concluded UCL final, Rodri scored the game-winning goal against Inter Milan (Italy) and was named Man of the Match.
With a Man City treble and a Nations League trophy under his belt, Rodriguez has proven himself to be one of the best midfielders in the game. The 6-foot-2 defensive midfielder is not only a stellar defender, but has recently shown off his offensive talents as well.
“We showed a lot of mental toughness in extra time and penalties,” he said after the game, “and we proved that we can be competitive with a win over Croatia, the team that knocked Brazil out of the (Qatar) World Cup.”
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente added: “We won a tournament with 16 of the best teams in Europe. “We deserved to win,” said Luis de la Fuente, head coach of the Spanish national team. “It’s significant because we did it against a top team that is experienced and finished third in the World Cup.