Rodri: From Disaster to Winning Machine

Manchester City’s Rodri has long been recognized as one of the most influential players globally, and his recent Ballon d’Or win has solidified that status. Over the past 19 months, this Spanish holding midfielder has only faced one defeat for both club and country.

Unmatched Success

During this incredible period, Rodri has celebrated numerous victories, including:

• Champions League
• Two Premier League titles
• FA Cup
• UEFA Super Cup
• Club World Cup
• Nations League
• Euro 2024

Despite his stellar performance, the 28-year-old is now set to miss the rest of the 2024-25 season after suffering a ruptured ACL in September.

Impact on Manchester City

Since Rodri’s arrival at City in 2019, the team has seen a 21% loss rate without him compared to just 11% when he’s on the pitch. Following his Ballon d’Or triumph, it’s clear just how critical Rodri is, especially with his absence looming this season.

Filling Big Shoes

Rodri had big shoes to fill when he joined City, taking over from Fernandinho, a player many consider the best defensive midfielder in Premier League history. Yet, Rodri has established himself alongside legends like Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, and Claude Makélélé—with a unique flair for passing and scoring Champions League-winning goals.

A Humble Start

Rodri himself described his first season at City as a “disaster.” He shared with BBC Sport, “The holding midfielder has the most responsibilities. When the team struggles, it’s often your fault.” He acknowledged that adapting to the role was challenging, recalling, “I didn’t even know what they were talking about—just let me play football.”

Becoming Indispensable

As he evolved into a key player, Rodri became instrumental in breaking up attacks and facilitating plays for stars like Ilkay Gündogan and Kevin De Bruyne. His statistics since the start of the 2019-20 season are impressive, leading in:

• Total passes
• Successful passes in the opposition half
• Possession won

Defining Moments

Rodri scored one of the most significant goals in City’s history, netting the only goal in their Champions League final victory over Inter Milan, helping secure the 2022-23 Treble. He also had a remarkable season last year, scoring a career-best nine goals.

Peer Recognition

According to Mike Minay, BBC Radio Manchester’s City commentator, “In his position, he’s one of the best City has ever had.” Many now believe Rodri has surpassed even legends like Yaya Touré.

National Glory

Rodri’s impact extends to the international scene, where he was named the best player at Euro 2024, aiding Spain in clinching the trophy. Despite his injury during the final, his influence was evident as the team struggled without him.

Remarkable Statistics

In his 2023-24 record, Rodri achieved:

• Four trophies
• Only one loss in 75 matches

He remains unbeaten in 52 league games, marking the best run in Europe’s top leagues since his arrival.

Essential to City’s Success

Rodri’s presence significantly boosts City’s performance, winning 74% of matches with him, compared to 67% without him. His role is undeniable in a team that has dominated the league and secured a Champions League title.

Global Recognition

Now, as a Ballon d’Or winner, Rodri joins an elite group, becoming the first Spanish player to win since Luis Suárez in 1960 and the first defensive midfielder since Lothar Matthäus in 1990.

Julien Laurens, a French football journalist, stated, “Rodri has been the best player in the world for two seasons now… He is the most intelligent player in his position.” Spanish football expert Guillem Balague added, “Rodri has done everything needed at club and international levels, demonstrating his immense value.”

More about sports

Who Will Win the 2024 Ballon d’Or? A New Era Begins

No Messi, No Ronaldo

With no Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo nominated, the upcoming Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris marks the start of a new era in soccer. Their absence creates a sense of void, signaling the likely end of one of sports’ most captivating rivalries.

Reflections on a Historic Rivalry

Jonathan Wilson, a soccer author, remarked on the significance of this shift. “As this rivalry comes to an end, we ponder what the next great rivalry will be,” he told The Associated Press. “However, there has never been a rivalry quite like that before.”

Dominance of Messi and Ronaldo

Messi and Ronaldo dominated soccer for over 16 years, winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or a combined 13 times. Yet, neither is nominated this year. Instead, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior is favored to win. He could become the first player born this century to claim the award after his impressive hat-trick against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

Vinicius Junior: A Rising Star

“Vinicius had an incredible season where he was a key player,” said Madrid teammate Lucas Vazquez. “He proved he’s the best player in the world.” Despite this, it seems the Ballon d’Or might return to a time when multiple winners were more common, before the Messi-Ronaldo era.

Historical Context

Historically, players like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, and George Best each won the Ballon d’Or only once. The award, originally for European players, was never given to legends like Pelé or Diego Maradona. Before Messi, the last player to win back-to-back was Dutch striker Marco van Basten in 1988 and 1989. Messi won his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or last year after leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup.

The Search for a Successor

Wilson, who wrote about Argentinian soccer in “Angels With Dirty Faces,” sees no clear successor to Messi. “Messi has been phenomenal for 17 or 18 years,” he stated. “In terms of sustained greatness, Messi is the greatest by far. There’s no one close to his talent right now.”

New Generation of Stars

Vinicius Junior’s potential win represents a shift in the soccer landscape. He helped Madrid secure their 15th European Cup last season. Alongside him, stars like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Lamine Yamal are emerging as future contenders.

Rodri and the 90s Generation

Manchester City midfielder Rodri is the second favorite to win this year. If he does, he would become the first player born in the 1990s to claim the award. Mbappe, born in 1998, is seen as the heir to Messi and Ronaldo’s legacy.

Recent Winners and Trends

Since Ronaldo’s first Ballon d’Or win in 2008, only Luka Modric (2018) and Karim Benzema (2022) have won. Both were born in the 1980s. The award was canceled in 2020, when Robert Lewandowski was considered the best player but was born in the ’80s as well. Neymar, born in 1992, finished third twice.

The Ballon d’Or Process

The Ballon d’Or, established by France Football magazine in 1956, is voted on by journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries. Each journalist selects ten players in ranked order, with points given for each position. The player with the most points wins.

The Impact of Messi and Ronaldo

The influence of Messi and Ronaldo during the social media age has elevated the award’s profile. Players now aspire to win it as passionately as they do the Champions League or World Cup. This potential win can also affect transfer negotiations, with clubs including clauses tied to winning the award in contracts.

New Rivalries on the Horizon

While Vinicius appears to be in a strong position this year, the rivalry between Mbappe and Haaland is poised to capture attention. Both are key strikers for Madrid and Manchester City, the top teams in Europe.

The Future of Soccer Rivalries

Matt Oldfield, a soccer author, believes rivalries are crucial in the sport. “The Mbappe-Haaland debate will be the leading one,” he noted. Oldfield writes children’s books about soccer, and his latest series, “The Football GOAT (Greatest of All Time),” reflects the evolving landscape of soccer. The first book focused on Messi and Ronaldo, while the next will center on Mbappe and Haaland. “We’re kind of moving beyond Messi and Ronaldo now,” he said.

for more about this topic

for more about sports

Intense Clásico Showdown

The Clásico ended in defeat for Real Madrid after a fierce match.

First Half Highlights

Initially, the game started at a high tempo, with both teams exchanging chances. The first opportunity came for the visitors after thirteen minutes, but Lunin outperformed Lamine Yamal in a one-on-one situation. Our response followed eight minutes later when Tchouameni linked up with Vini Jr., who evaded Cubarsi but missed by inches.

Key Moments

On the half-hour mark, Inigo Martinez capitalized by heading in Raphinha’s cross. Moments later, Mbappé found the net, but his goal was disallowed for offside.

Second Half Struggles

After the break, the tempo remained intense. However, things turned difficult quickly when Lewandowski scored twice in the 54th and 56th minutes. Our team nearly cut the deficit, but Iñaki Peña denied Mbappé in the 63rd minute. Lewandowski came close to a hat trick but hit the post just three minutes later.

Final Minutes

The match continued to be contested at both ends. Modrić’s free-kick in the 70th minute was nearly converted by Bellingham, but it narrowly missed the target. Unfortunately, from a potential 1-2, the score escalated to 0-4 with goals from Lamine Yamal in the 77th minute and Raphinha eight minutes later.

More about sports