Every team that Rodri is a member of is defined by him. the speed of possession, the attack’s direction, and the press’s intensity. He reached the zeitgeist of his career to date in 2024.
He was named player of the tournament at Euro 2024 for his equally crucial role in re-establishing Spain’s possession football as the zeitgeist after leading Manchester City to an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.
He became the first Spaniard to win the Ballon d’Or since 1960 in October of that year, earning him the greatest prize of all. In addition to winning the European Championship and the UEFA Nations League, Rodri had more than 65 senior caps for Spain by 2026.
As captain, he has come to represent Spain’s new golden generation and is among the most significant midfield players in the nation since Sergio Busquets. Between 2019 and 2024, he participated in 310 club and national games; however, his body was not ready for another long season.
He suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September 2024, just weeks after he recovered from the injury that kept him out of the championship game. He made a comeback for the season’s penultimate league game, but he only played 83 minutes for City overall.
City’s performances and outcomes drastically declined during his absence. They ended trophyless for the first time in eight seasons in 2024–2025 after finishing a distant third with 71 points, the lowest total of any Guardiola season.
Rodri is considered one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation and has emerged as the mainstay of Spain’s national team. He has developed into Spain’s midfield leader since making his senior debut in 2018, taking Sergio Busquets’ place as the team’s primary holding midfielder before rising to the position of captain.
Rodri received his first senior cap in March 2018 after playing for Spain at the Under-16, Under-19, and Under-21 levels. Because of his intelligence, positional discipline, and remarkable passing range, he quickly established himself as a rotation option behind Busquets.
Spain advanced to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 with Rodri starting every game. Despite the fact that Italy ultimately defeated Spain on penalties, Luis Enrique’s possession-based style relied heavily on his poise in possession and ability to control the tempo.
Due to Spain’s defensive injuries, Rodri was asked to play center back for the majority of the World Cup in Qatar. Spain lost to Morocco in a penalty shootout and were eliminated in the Round of 16 despite playing admirably out of position. Among the few things that went well during the campaign were his leadership and adaptability.
The pivotal event in Rodri’s international career was Euro 2024. Spain defeated England 2-1 in the final after winning all seven games on their way to winning the trophy. Throughout the competition, Rodri dominated games with his leadership, defensive awareness, and cool passing.
After Xavi, he became just the second Spaniard to win UEFA’s Player of the Tournament title. Rodri shook off his recent injury worries to make it back in time to lead Spain in the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
Once again, his experience has been crucial in helping Spain advance to the semifinals, where they will play France in an attempt to win their first World Cup since 2010.
