A true Albert Einstein of football IQ, Rodri received the Ballon d’Or award, rare for such a profile that his Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola describes as “the best midfielder in the world”.
“Rodri is a perfect computer, without faults,” says another technician who benefits from his intelligence of the game, the coach of Spain Luis de la Fuente, winner of Euro 2024 , during which the Madrid native was elected best player of the tournament.
“I think this trophy is a victory for me, but the victory of so many Spanish players, Iniesta, Xavi (who have never won the Ballon d’Or), is a victory for Spanish football and the figure of the midfielder,” said the winner.
The player who cherishes consistency above all else, like his absolute model Sergio Busquets, of the great Barça, is this time for good placed at the top, among the stars.
Rodri finished 5th in the 2023 Ballon d’Or , at the end of a season in which he had already been decisive, notably scoring the only goal in the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan (1-0).
“When I retire, I would like people to remember me as a player who was consistently high quality,” he said in an interview with France Football .
An absolute model of a team player, always at the service of the collective, Rodri has received a recognition almost always reserved for offensive players.
“Very intelligent”
The Ballon d’Or for him, “I hope it happens, he deserves it, but maybe someone else deserves it too,” Guardiola said. “Rodri has not only had an exceptional season but also many other great seasons.”
“He’s very intelligent and knows when to play long or short,” added the City mentor.
Upon his recruitment in 2019, he said of Rodri: “We have an incredible midfielder for the next decade, or at least for the time he stays here.”
This Ballon d’Or could give even more weight to the “unionist” Rodri, who was demanding an easing of the crazy match schedule just before seriously injuring his knee.
His arrival on stage on crutches, helped by the 1995 Ballon d’Or winner George Weah, is a reminder that Rodri also symbolises the infernal pace of football.
His voice had carried before the first Champions League match of the season, against Inter Milan.
“If it continues like this, at some point we will have no other choice,” he said of a possible players’ strike.
Trade unionist
The current schedule, “in my humble opinion, is too much,” he insisted. “We have to take care of ourselves, we are the main characters of this sport, or this business, whatever you call it.”
“It’s a general opinion among the players, it’s not just Rodri’s opinion,” he added.
Playing each season “60 or 70 matches, no. Between 40 and 50 matches, a player can play at the highest level. Then, you decrease because it is not possible to maintain your physical level”, Rodri developed.
Like a curse, five days later he fell, victim to a rupture of the cruciate ligament in his right knee against Arsenal.
“We will miss Rodri. His physique, his presence,” Guardiola regretted.
The selection will also miss him, he who still highlighted the collective, in the bowels of the Berlin stadium, scene of the Euro 2024 final won by the Roja.
“We have shown that we are a team,” he said. “More than just a national team, we have proven that we are a team. Throughout the European Championship and today, we have made history.”
His sense of tempo, recovery and the right pass was preferred to Vinicius’ brilliance. But as Einstein said, everything is relative.
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