Why Rodri deserves the Ballon d’Or: The midfield maestro backing Man City and Spain to glory
Rodri, Manchester City’s midfield linchpin, has grown from an unsung player into an integral part of recent successes of both his club and country. His influence on a match is often overshadowed by the more glittering moments of forwards like Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, but the importance of Rodri has really only started to be appreciated. Be it Manchester City celebrating yet another Premier League title or Spain clinching the European Championship, it simply would not have been the same without Rodri. The time is now ripe for the footballing world to reward him with what is rightfully his-the Ballon d’Or.
The Evolution of Rodri’s Role at Manchester City
When Rodri came to Manchester City in the summer of 2019, he was a talented holding midfielder but still developing his craft. Pep Guardiola, who has always placed great importance on the role of the central midfielder, wasted no time fitting Rodri into his system. However, Rodri finally came into his own this season, the 2020-21 season.
It was Rodri who showed an ability to take control of the tempo and provided defensive stability during a time when City was misfiring in the Premier League. And what Guardiola said about him afterwards was notable too: “The best holding midfielders don’t appear on the front pages of newspapers. but when the team plays well it is because they are outstanding.” Despite that, Rodri was left on the bench for the Champions League final against Chelsea – a decision many subsequently considered critical.
Fast forward to the present day, Rodri is not just a cog in the machine but rather very much the engine driving Manchester City forward. His passing accuracy, tactical intelligence, and breaking up play make him almost unbeatable in the middle of the park. So consistent and crucial have the performances of Rodri been that he is now being spoken of in the same breath as the very best in the world.
Rodri’s Influence on the European Championship Title of Spain
However, Rodri’s performances do not end with what he does at his club, but rather as one of the most influential factors in the resurgence of credible performances from Spain on the international scene. In the European Championship, Rodri was that anchor in midfield, dictating the pace of play since doing this was believed to ensure Spain would be able to control matches against top-class opposition. The key factor in this was his reading of the game for those interceptions, which allowed Spain to transition from back to front so seamlessly.
A player like Rodri cannot be overestimated in an international tournament: composed and intelligent on the ball, he keeps Spain stabilized when working through those tricky games that small margins usually make the difference between victory or defeat. While others might have made more headlines, Rodri quietly and with efficiency did the grounds work in midfield for Spain’s triumph.
Why Rodri deserves the Ballon d’Or
The Ballon d’Or is normally won by whoever scores most goals or pulls off most magic tricks. And yet, football is a team sport and its best teams need to rely on players of a less bright public profile. There is nothing flashy about what they do, but their value is no less considerable. Rodri falls into that category too. We talk here about an athlete who can get hold of the rhythm in most games, stop an adversary from further attack, and create conditions for his teammates to shine.
Rodri has been nothing but sensational this whole past season, instrumental in Manchester City’s dominant run to the title in the Premier League, wherein he also played a significant part in Spain’s victory in the European Championship. He keeps on proving his consistency, intelligence, and tactical awareness, which have made him indispensable for both his club and his country.
He has always proved to rise in the most decisive games, from crunching Premier League games to high-stakes international games. Rodri has never failed to put in topmost level performances, and his calmness while under pressure-only making the right decisions at the right time-separates him from many midfielders.
Conclusion
In a sport that is normally led by goals and assists, Rodri might not take the first or even the second page, but he is the backbone of any team he contributes to. It started as an unsung hero and gradually grew into the major key figure in the success achieved by both Manchester City and Spain, as his intelligence and set of skills were backboned with hard work.
With the debates going on regarding the Ballon d’Or, it is now time for English football to open its imagination toward valuing players like Rodri: maybe not flashy, gaudy, or noisy, but definitely indispensable-he had been; without whom, surely, the things Manchester City and Spain did this season would not have been possible. Rodri deserves the highest individual honor in football, which is the Ballon d’Or.
Read more about related articles, just click here
