* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:27, 2 November 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 21:53, 7 September 2025 (UTC)
Rodrigo Hernández Cascante (born 22 June 1996), known asRodri orRodrigo, is a Spanish professionalfootballer who plays as adefensive midfielder forPremier League clubManchester City and theSpain national team. Known for his passing, composure, playmaking and physical attributes, he is widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.[3][4][5]
Rodri has won several individual awards, most notably the2024 Ballon d'Or. He became the second male Spanish player to achieve this feat afterLuis Suárez, who did so in 1960.[6] He was also the first Manchester City player to win the award.[7]
On 4 December 2017, having already established himself as a regular, Rodri renewed his contract until 2022.[18] He scored his first goal in theSpanish top level on 18 February 2018, the opener in a 1–1 away draw againstRCD Espanyol.[19]
On 24 May 2018, Rodri returned toAtlético Madrid after the club reached an agreement with Villarreal for his transfer. He signed a five-year contract with the club,[20] for a fee in the region of €20 million, plus €5 million in variables.[21] He made his debut on 15 August in the2018 UEFA Super Cup inTallinn, playing the first 71 minutes of a 4–2 extra-time win overcity rivalsReal Madrid.[22]
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.[23][24] He signed a five-year contract.[25]
It was announced in October 2019 that Rodri would be out for a month due to a hamstring injury.[29] On 1 March 2020, City won theEFL Cup at Wembley Stadium for the third consecutive time, beatingAston Villa 2–1 in thefinal. Rodri headed in City's second goal from a corner, which ultimately turned out to be the winner.[30]
2020–present: Premier League success and continental treble
On 13 February 2021, Rodri scored City's first goal from a penalty in a 3–0 home win overTottenham Hotspur.[31] During the2021–22 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'sThiago coming close.[32]
On 23 September 2023, he was sent off in a Premier League match againstNottingham Forest for lashing out atMorgan Gibbs-White following a tussle, which sparked a melee. This was Rodri's first red card in the Premier League.[39] City went on to lose each of the three subsequent games (againstWolverhampton Wanderers,Arsenal, andNewcastle) for which he was suspended.[40][41][42] After his fifthyellow card againstTottenham, Rodri was suspended as City went on to lose the game again – that time againstAston Villa.[43]
On 19 May 2024, Rodri would score a decisive goal into the bottom corner to ensure Manchester City's 3–1 win overWest Ham United on the last match day of the season; City's victory saw them become the first club in English history to lift the league trophy infour consecutive seasons.[44] Additionally, he reached his 50th consecutive undefeated Premier League match with his club, placing him second only toSol Campbell with 56 games.[45]
On 22 September 2024, Rodri was withdrawn in the first half of Manchester City's 2–2 draw with Arsenal, due to what was later confirmed to be anACL andmeniscus injury, ruling him out for the majority of the2024–25 season.[46] In October 2024, he was awarded the2024 Ballon d'Or.[47] On 20 May 2025, he made his comeback from the long-term injury, coming on as a late substitute in a 3–1 win againstBournemouth in the penultimate match of the season.[48]
After missing out on selection for the2018 FIFA World Cup, Rodri was named in Spain's squad for their first twoUEFA Nations League fixtures againstEngland andCroatia in September 2018. After being an unused substitute in the first match atWembley Stadium, he made his competitive debut as a 59th minute substitute forSergio Busquets in the 6–0 win overCroatia on 11 September.[51] A month later, Rodri made his first start for Spain in a 4–1 friendly win overWales in Cardiff and was namedman of the match by theBBC.[52]
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 the2020–21 UEFA Nations League. The win in Seville ensuredLa Roja would finish top ofGroup 4 and qualify for the2021 UEFA Nations League Finals in Italy.[54]
In June 2021, he was included inLuis Enrique's24-man squad for the postponedUEFA Euro 2020 finals.[55] In the absence of captain Sergio Busquets due toCOVID-19, Rodri started the team's first two matches of the tournament as they drew 0–0 withPoland and 1–1 withSweden.[56] With Busquets' return for the finalGroup E match againstSlovakia, Rodri was an unused substitute in the 5–0 win that secured Spain's place in theknockout stage.[57] In the round of 16 match against Croatia, Rodri replaced Busquets in the 102nd minute as the team won 5–3 afterextra time.[58] He again appeared as a substitute in the quarter-final draw withSwitzerland, coming on forPedri in the final minute of extra time ahead of thepenalty shootout. Although Rodri's kick was saved by Swiss goalkeeperYann Sommer, Spain won the shootout 4–2 to reach the semi-final.[59] Rodri appeared as a 70th-minute substitute forKoke as Spain drew 1–1 withItaly in the semi-final, losing 4–2 in the penalty shootout.[60][61]
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 inthe final, playing 84 minutes at theSan Siro in Milan.[62]
2022–2023: 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 UEFA Nations League
Rodri was included in Spain's squad for the2022 FIFA World Cup[63] and was used as a central defender.[64] He played the full 90 minutes in Spain's threeGroup E matches, where they won 7–0 againstCosta Rica, drew 1–1 with Germany and lost 2–1 toJapan. In theround of 16, he played 120 minutes of the team's 0–0 draw withMorocco, asLa Roja were eliminated after losing 3–0 in the penalty shootout.[65]
After the international retirement of Sergio Busquets on 16 December 2022,[66] Rodri succeeded him as Spain's midfield pivot.[67] On 28 March 2023, he captained the team for the first time in their secondUEFA Euro 2024 qualifier, where they lost 2–0 toScotland atHampden Park.[68]
In June 2023, Rodri was named as Player of the Finals for the2023 UEFA Nations League Finals.[69] He started in both the semi-final against Italy and thefinal 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.[70]
On 26 March 2024, Rodri captained Spain for the second time in a friendly match againstBrazil. He scored his second and third senior international goals in the 3–3 draw, both from penalty kicks.[71]
In June 2024, Rodri was named in Spain's squad forUEFA Euro 2024 in Germany.[72] In the team's final warm-up match – a 5–1 win overNorthern Ireland in Mallorca[73] – he won his 50thcap for Spain.[74]
In the team's opening match of the tournament, he played 86 minutes before being substituted forMartin Zubimendi asLa Roja beat Croatia 3–0 at Berlin'sOlympiastadion.[75]
Rodri helped Spain reach and win theUEFA Euro 2024 final with an outstanding tournament performance, as he was awarded the best player of the tournament, scoring one goal, and having a 92% passing accuracy. Spain defeated England 2–1 to secure their fourth European championship.[76] In addition, he became one of 12 players who won both youth and senior Euro titles, alongside his teammatesNacho,Ferran Torres,Álvaro Morata andMikel Merino.[77]
During Spain's celebrations of theirEuro 2024 victory over England, Rodri and Spanish captainÁlvaro Morata were filmed chanting "Gibraltar is Spanish". The chants were labelled "rancid", "discriminatory" and "hugely offensive to Gibraltarians" by theGovernment of Gibraltar, and led to an official complaint toUEFA by the government and theGibraltar Football Association.[78][79] After an investigation was opened on 19 July, Rodri and Morata were formally charged under Article 11 of UEFA on 23 July.[80] The pair were given a one match ban.[81]
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,[82] and has won 100% of his aerial duels in the 2022–23 season, according to Squawka. He averages a passing accuracy of 91–92%.[82]
Rodri is further known for his versatility and tactical intelligence.[83][84][85] He is known for his contributions to his team's build-up play.[86][87] Often used as ananchor, orwater carrier, his primary role is to win backpossession in midfield and distribute the ball to start counterattacks.[84][85][87] His ability to maintainpossession under pressure allows him to perform this role effectively.[84][88]
Rodri's tactical evolution under Pep Guardiola has redefined the modernholding midfielder role. According to a Sky Sports analysis, his positional intelligence and composure under pressure are essential to Manchester City's midfield control. He often positions himself between the centre-backs to facilitate build-up play and maintain possession, allowing the team to transition smoothly from defence to attack. His precise distribution and spatial awareness make him a central figure in Guardiola's system.[89]
In addition to his defensive abilities, Rodri also possesses accurate passing and vision, allowing him to operate as adeep-lying playmaker from the heart of themidfield.[84][85][87] In the 2023–24 season, he was involved in more sequences of play than any other player in his team or in thePremier League.[87] He is also known for his ability to set the tempo of the game.[84][85][90]
Besides his regular position of aholding midfielder, he has occasionally been used as a ball-playingcentre-back, in particular by national team manager Luis Enrique during the 2022 World Cup.[91]
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 the 2023 UEFA Champions League Final.[92][93][94][95] 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.[84][96][97] Rodri was awarded the Ballon d'Or in 2024, recognising his outstanding performances throughout the season.[98][99][100]
Many pundits currently consider Rodri to be one of the best defensive midfielders in world football.[101][102][103][104] In January 2024, members of theESPN FC staff debated whether Rodri was in fact that best player in the world at the moment.[105][106] In March 2024, his Manchester City managerPep Guardiola described him as "the best midfield player, currently, in the world by far."[107] That same month,The New York Times rated him as the best player in the Premier League,[108] while former defenderRio Ferdinand believed that Rodri was already arguably the best defensive midfielder in the league's history.[109]
While a Villarreal youth player, Rodri studied at theJaume I University in nearbyCastellón de la Plana for four years to gain a degree in business administration and management.[112][113] At university, he met his longterm girlfriend Laura, who was studying medicine.[114] He avoids using social media.[115]
^"1–3: Frenados" [1–3: Slowed down] (in Spanish). RCD Espanyol. 7 February 2015.Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved18 December 2015.
^"Granero cambia la realidad" [Granero changes the reality].Marca (in Spanish). Spain. 18 February 2018.Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved28 March 2018.
^Hernández, The UEFA panel of observers awarded the Best Player of Euro 2024 to Rodrigo."Rodri is chosen as the MVP of Euro 2024".beIN SPORTS. Retrieved15 July 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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