*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:56, 25 May 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:37, 20 June 2024 (UTC)
Rodrigo Hernández Cascante (born 22 June 1996), known as RodriorRodrigo, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the Spain national team. He is considered by pundits to be the best defensive midfielder in the world and is known for his versatility, accurate passing and tactical ability.
On 4 December 2017, having already established himself as a regular, Rodri renewed his contract until 2022.[13] He scored his first goal in the Spanish top level on 18 February 2018, the opener in a 1–1 away draw against RCD Espanyol.[14]
On 24 May 2018, Rodri returned to Atlético Madrid after the club reached an agreement with Villarreal for his transfer. He signed a five-year contract with the club,[15] for a fee in the region of €20 million, plus €5 million in variables.[16] He made his debut on 15 August in the 2018 UEFA Super CupinTallinn, playing the first 71 minutes of a 4–2 extra-time win over city rivalsReal Madrid.[17]
On 3 July 2019, Manchester City met the terms of Rodri's £62.6 million release clause, enabling him to buy out the remainder of his contract with Atlético and leave the club. The transfer was a new record fee paid by Manchester City.[18][19] He signed a five-year contract.[20]
It was announced in October 2019 that Rodri would be out for a month due to a hamstring injury.[24] On 1 March 2020, City won the EFL Cup at Wembley Stadium for the third consecutive time, beating Aston Villa 2–1 in the final. Rodri headed in City's second goal from a corner, which ultimately turned out to be the winner.[25]
2020–present: Further domestic success and continental treble[edit]
On 13 February 2021, Rodri scored City's first goal from a penalty in a 3–0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur.[26] During the 2021–22 domestic campaign, Rodri had a pass completion count of 82.0 per 90 minutes and a pass completion rate of 91.8% over the course of the whole season. These numbers put Rodri at the top of all midfielders in the Premier League in both categories. Multiplying those two numbers together reveals that on average, Rodri attempted one pass every 60.5 seconds of the season, leading all Premier League midfielders in that category too, with only Liverpool's Thiago coming close.[27]
On 23 September 2023, he was sent off in a Premier League match against Nottingham Forest for lashing out at Morgan Gibbs-White following a tussle, which sparked a melee. This was Rodri's first red card in the Premier League.[34] City went on to lose each of the three subsequent games - against Wolves, Arsenal, and Newcastle - for which he was suspended.[35][36][37] After his fifth yellow card against Tottenham, Rodri was suspended as City went on to lose the game again - that time against Aston Villa. [38]
On 19 May 2024, Rodri would score a decisive goal into the bottom corner to ensure Manchester City's 3–1 win over West Ham on the last match day of the season; Manchester City's victory saw them become the first club in Premier League history to lift the trophy in four consecutive seasons.[39] Additionally, he reached his 50th consecutive undefeated Premier League match with his club, placing him second only to Sol Campbell with 56 games.[40]
After missing out on selection for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Rodri was named in Spain's squad for their first two UEFA Nations League fixtures against England and Croatia in September 2018. After being an unused substitute in the first match at Wembley Stadium, he made his competitive debut as a 59th minute substitute for Sergio Busquets in the 6–0 win over Croatia on 11 September.[43] A month later, Rodri made his first start for Spain in a 4–1 friendly win over Wales in Cardiff and was named man of the match by the BBC. [44]
On 17 November 2020, Rodri scored his first senior international goal in Spain's 6–0 defeat of Germany in their final group phase match of the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League. The win in Seville ensured La Roja would finish top of Group 4 and qualify for the 2021 UEFA Nations League Finals in Italy.[46]
In June 2021, he was included in Luis Enrique's 24-man squad for the postponed UEFA Euro 2020 finals.[47] In the absence of captain Sergio Busquets due to COVID-19, Rodri started the team's first two matches of the tournament as they drew 0–0 with Poland and 1–1 with Sweden.[48] With Busquets' return for the final Group E match against Slovakia, Rodri was an unused substitute in the 5–0 win that secured Spain's place in the knockout stage.[49] In the round of 16 match against Croatia, Rodri replaced Busquets in the 102nd minute as the team won 5–3 after extra time.[50] He again appeared as a substitute in the quarter-final draw with Switzerland, coming on for Pedri in the final minute of extra time ahead of the penalty shootout. Although Rodri's kick was saved by Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer, Spain won the shootout 4–2 to reach the semi-final.[51] Rodri appeared as a 70th-minute substitute for Koke as Spain drew 1–1 with Italy in the semi-final, losing 4–2 in the penalty shootout.[52][53]
In October 2021, Rodri was included in Spain's squad for the Nations League finals. On 10 October, he started in Spain's 2–1 defeat against France in the final, playing 84 minutes at the San Siro in Milan.[54]
Rodri was included in Spain's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup[55] and was utilised as a central defender.[56] He played the full 90 minutes in Spain's three Group E matches, where they won 7–0 against Costa Rica, drew 1–1 with Germany and lost 2–1 to Japan. In the round of 16, he played 120 minutes of the team's 0–0 draw with Morocco, as La Roja were eliminated after losing 3–0 in the penalty shootout.[57]
After the international retirement of Sergio Busquets on 16 December 2022,[58] Rodri succeeded him as Spain's midfield pivot.[59] On 28 March 2023, he captained the team for the first time in their second UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier, where they lost 2–0 to ScotlandatHampden Park.[60]
In June 2023, Rodri was named as Player of the Finals for the 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals.[61] He started in both the semi-final against Italy and the final against Croatia, the latter of which Spain won via a penalty shootout, with Rodri scoring his spot kick. He was named the best player of the tournament.[62]
On 26 March 2024, Rodri captained Spain for the second time in a friendly match against Brazil. He scored his second and third senior international goals in the 3–3 draw, both from penalty kicks.[63]
In June 2024, Rodri was named in Spain's squad for UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany.[64] In the team's final warm-up match – a 5–1 win over Northern Ireland in Mallorca[65] – he won his 50th cap for Spain.[66]
In the team's opening match of the tournament, he played 86 minutes before being substituted for Martin ZubimendiasLa Roja beat Croatia 3–0 at Berlin's Olympiastadion.[67]
Rodri is a physically strong and tall player. His physique helps him to frequently win tackles, challenges on opponent players, as well as aerial duels. He has a 73% success rate at tackles on opponent players,[68] and has won 100% of his aerial duels in the 2022–23 season, according to Squawka. He averages a passing accuracy of 91–92%.[68]
Rodri is further known for his versatility and tactical intelligence.[69][70][71] He is known for his contributions to his team's build-up play.[72][73] Often used as an anchor, or water carrier, his primary role is to win back possession in midfield and distribute the ball to start counterattacks.[70][71][73] His ability to maintain possession under pressure allows him to perform this role effectively.[70][74]
In addition to his defensive abilities, Rodri also possesses accurate passing and vision, allowing him to operate as a deep-lying playmaker from the heart of the midfield.[70][71][73] In the 2023–24 season, he was involved in more sequences of play than any other player in his team or in the Premier League.[73] He is also known for his ability to set the tempo of the game.[70][71][75]
Besides his regular position of a holding midfielder, he has occasionally been used as a ball-playing centre back, in particular by national team manager Luis Enrique during the 2022 World Cup.[76]
During his Manchester City tenure, he also worked to improve his goalscoring, and became known for his long-range shooting, which resulted in several goals, such as his match–winning goal from outside the box against Inter in 2023 UEFA Champions League Final.[77][78][79][80] Despite not being particularly renowned for his pace, he has been credited by pundits for his ability to catch up with much faster attackers in midfield.[70][81][82]
Many pundits currently consider Rodri to be one of the best defensive midfielders in world football.[83][84][85][86] In January 2024, members of the ESPN FC staff debated whether Rodri was in fact that best player in the world at the moment.[87][88] In March 2024, his Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described him as "the best midfield player, currently, in the world by far."[89] That same month, The New York Times rated him as the best player in the Premier League,[90] while former defender Rio Ferdinand believed that Rodri was already arguably the best defensive midfielder in the league's history.[91]
Rodri studied at university for four years to gain a degree in business administration and management.[92] At university he met his longterm girlfriend Laura, who was studying medicine.[93]
^"1–3: Frenados" [1–3: Slowed down] (in Spanish). RCD Espanyol. 7 February 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
^"Granero cambia la realidad" [Granero changes the reality]. Marca (in Spanish). Madrid. 18 February 2018. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
^BBC Sport [Spain show their class to beat Northern Ireland Spain show their class to beat Northern Ireland]. Retrieved 20 June 2024. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)