Rodri, Nearly Unbeatable, Deserves to Win the Ballon d'Or

"The best holding midfielders don't make the front pages of newspapers," Pep Guardiola remarked in February 2021. "They operate behind the scenes, but when the team excels, it's because they are exceptional." At that time, Guardiola was referring to Rodri, who had been with City for just a season and a half.

These comments came shortly after a challenging period for City, who had fallen behind Liverpool in the previous season's title race and struggled at the start of the 2020-21 campaign, dropping 16 points in their first 12 games. However, they soon returned to their dominant form, securing a 10th consecutive league win with a 4-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield. Rodri played a crucial role in this resurgence.

While Guardiola valued Rodri's contributions, the Spaniard’s impact was perhaps not fully acknowledged at the time. In fact, Guardiola even left Rodri on the bench during City's Champions League final defeat by Chelsea that season.

Fast forward nearly four years, and Rodri has now made headlines worldwide. Although he may not receive the same level of praise as teammates like Erling Haaland or Phil Foden, his influence on Manchester City and Spain is widely recognized. He no longer "hides behind the team" but stands prominently at the forefront. Having won both the Premier League title with City and the European Championship with Spain last season, it's time for Rodri to receive the recognition he truly deserves with a Ballon d'Or.

Serious contender

Rodri was a strong contender for the 2023 Ballon d'Or, having had an exceptional season with Manchester City, where he played a key role in their treble-winning campaign and scored the decisive goal in the Champions League final against Inter. This was a perfect redemption after being benched in Porto two years earlier.

However, his achievements were somewhat overshadowed by Erling Haaland’s remarkable tally of 52 goals in 53 games. As a result, Rodri was ranked fifth in the Ballon d'Or standings, while Haaland secured second place.

Lionel Messi claimed his eighth Ballon d'Or, continuing his year-long celebration of Argentina's World Cup victory. With Messi’s dominance now potentially waning, especially with Argentina winning the Copa America, it’s time for Rodri to step into the spotlight and claim the recognition he richly deserves.

74 games unbeaten

Rodri's impact on Manchester City's treble-winning season won't be reflected in this year's Ballon d'Or, as it's based on achievements from the 2023-24 season and summer tournaments. Nevertheless, his performance last season was outstanding.

He ended the Premier League campaign unbeaten, with City's only losses occurring during his suspension. His last league defeat dates back to February 2023. In the Champions League, Rodri also maintained an unbeaten record, with City's elimination coming in the quarter-finals against Real Madrid after two draws and a penalty shootout. The only defeat he experienced was in the FA Cup final against Manchester United, ending City's remarkable 74-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, which lasted 475 days.

Despite this, his contributions were crucial as City secured an unprecedented fourth consecutive league title, a feat unmatched in 135 years of English football. While Haaland was City's top scorer and Foden earned Premier League Player of the Season, Rodri's role in this historic achievement was equally significant.

Increased attacking output

Rodri's game has never been about goals and assists, but he still managed to score eight times during the league season, including crucial goals in City's opener against Burnley and their title-clinching win over West Ham. He also provided nine assists.

In total, Rodri contributed to 17 Premier League goals—two more than Bernardo Silva and three more than Kevin De Bruyne—accounting for 17 percent of City's overall output. This places him as the 21st highest goal contributor in the league, which is remarkable considering his role as a holding midfielder.

Rodri's primary responsibility was to orchestrate City's play from start to finish, and he excelled in this role. It was no coincidence that City lost all three matches he missed between September and October after being sent off against Nottingham Forest for putting his hands around Morgan Gibbs-White's neck.

That incident led to an unusual rebuke from Guardiola, who urged Rodri to "control himself and his emotions." Rodri took this advice to heart, and his defining impact on City over the past five years can be summed up as 'control.'

Dictating everything

After facing Rodri in Luton Town's match against Manchester City last December, Tom Lockyer, Luton's captain, offered high praise for the Spanish midfielder. The game, which ended in a 2-1 victory for City, would be Lockyer’s final match before suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch just six days later against Bournemouth. Despite the loss, Lockyer spoke admiringly of Rodri’s performance.

“Rodri... Honestly, that guy, man, it’s just a joy to share the pitch with him. You don’t say that about many players, but he’s definitely one of those where you come off the field thinking, ‘Wow,’” Lockyer told BBC Radio Five Live.

“He’s like a Rolls Royce—just controlling the midfield, dictating everything. Everything went through him. When you thought you had him pressed and were about to win the ball, he would draw you in and then execute a pass with even more time on the ball. It’s rare to see him get caught on the ball; he dictates everything Manchester City tries to do.”

'Give him the Ballon d'Or now'

Lockyer was far from the only one impressed by Rodri's performances. In March, Pep Guardiola described him as “the best midfield player in the world, by far.”

“The highlights will often go to other players,” the City boss added. “The holding midfielder is there to think for the team and doesn’t always get the recognition. But within the team? All of us, from players to staff, know just how crucial and decisive he is. Massively important for us.”

Rodri’s influence was also praised by his international manager, Luis de la Fuente, who likened him to “a perfect computer, managing everything—emotions and moments—in a masterful way” during Spain’s thrilling European Championship campaign.

After Spain triumphed over England in the final, despite Rodri being forced off injured at half-time, de la Fuente took his praise a step further, calling Rodri “the best player in the world” and adding, “Please, give him the Ballon d'Or now!”

Allowing others to thrive

The football world should take note and award the sport’s biggest individual honor to a defensive midfielder for the first time since Matthias Sammer in 1996. For too long, the sport has favored goal-scorers and flair players over the midfielders who make everything tick.

Rodri’s impact on Manchester City and Spain is a testament to the crucial role of a holding midfielder. Without players like him, the best attackers—such as City’s Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva—would not be able to thrive as they do. “He’s the one who allows De Bruyne, Foden, and Silva to perform at their best because he’s so effective,” former City forward Paul Dickov noted on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Rodri also enables Erling Haaland to focus on scoring goals, and his unselfish work has provided the foundation for talents like Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal to shine, helping Spain secure their first major trophy in 12 years. It’s time to recognize the essential contributions of midfield maestros like Rodri with the Ballon d'Or.

Listen to De La Fuente

Rodri himself remains indifferent to individual accolades. “I don’t play football for that,” he told The Guardian in July. “Maybe people would like me to be more marketable, and [Álvaro Morata] sometimes says, ‘Mate, you should do this…’ but I understand football differently. I know how it works, so I don’t get frustrated if I get overlooked. If one day someone wants to reward the work, that’s welcome, but it doesn’t bother me at all.”

Rodri’s attitude is a breath of fresh air in today’s football landscape, reflecting his grounded nature. After all, this is a player who was still living in university halls when he made his debut for Villarreal and continued to drive a second-hand Opel Corsa long after turning professional.

Despite his own humility, it is time for the Ballon d'Or voters to heed Luis de la Fuente’s call and recognize Rodri’s exceptional talent. It’s time to challenge Pep Guardiola’s view and feature a holding midfielder on the front pages of newspapers around the world, holding the sport’s most prestigious individual honor.

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