Once Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, said, “The best holding midfielders do not appear in the forefront; they hide behind the team and are major contributors to the stunningness of a team.” Now he has been proven correct by Spanish legend Rodri.
Pep once himself played such a role and was also all praises when he said the same about the rising Spanish superstar Rodri. And such has been his role for Manchester City, as they have turned their fortunes since the times Rodri came into the EPL side.
Fast forward to the 4-years at Manchester City. Rodri is an element on the front page of every newspaper, and though he might not have been praised for the merits of Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, the likes of Rodri and KDB have been the major contributors to the European giants’ dominance in the sport.
Rodri also missed a well-deserved Ballon d’Or in 2023
Rodri was one of the most astonishing yet firm contenders for the Ballon d’Or after he secured a treble win with Manchester City. However, his efforts were surpassed by his Norwegian teammate, who scored 52 goals in the season and was ranked second behind Lionel Messi, who won his 8th Ballon d’Or after a victorious World Cup triumph with Argentina.
The English giants Manchester City were a part of their record-breaking 74-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, while Rodri has slowly accomplished being among the major players in an attacking role. As he surpassed the City midfield giants, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva.
Worthy Winner
Rodri won the UEFA Euro Championship with Spain in 2024, when he led them as their skipper in the finals when Alvaro Morata stepped down, while Rodri himself mentioned that he relishes football due to team achievements and not for individual glory.
The voters for the Ballon d’Or seemed to have made the right decision by listening to De La Fuente to recognize his immense calibre as a player. Finally, for the first time in Ballon d’Or’s history, a holding midfielder often known for a defensive role will clinch the title pages of newspapers around the world with the Ballon d’Or conquered.
