Basic Stats and Low-Lights: 9 goals and 14 assists -His 4 G/As in the CL came against Copenhagen, Young Boys, Crvena Zvezda... -Against Real Madrid despite having 67% and 62% possession he got off 1 shot a game and was unable to break Madrid's low block in the 2nd leg or stop Madrid's transitions in either leg. -Didn't take a PK against Madrid -Only 1 big game goal vs Chelsea which was to salvage a draw -Outperformed by Mainoo in the FA Final -Is indefinitely City’s most IMPORTANT player but was not their best which is why Foden won the PL Player of the Year, Haaland the golden boot. You can clearly see why KDB is a better player Rodri despite only playing half the season. Not Impressive

CL Analytics: -Assists: 1st was Jude... Rodri was 9th tied w/ Samuel Lino -xAG: 7th was Jude... -Rodri is not top 10 -Pass %: 77th tied with Malick Thiaw at 92% (Jude had 90.5%) -Passing Distance: 1st Kobel, 2nd Kroos... -Rodri not top 10 -Key Passes: 4th Kimmich and Mbappe, 5th Jude, Kroos, Gundogen... Rodri not top 10 -Touches: 2nd Kimmich, 3rd Rodri, 5th Kroos -Tackles Won: 6th Kimmich... Rodri not top 10 -Dribblers Tackled: 5th Kimmich... Rodri, not top 10 -Interceptions: 10th Kroos... Rodri, not top 10

CL Summary: I mean the man is playing for a treble-winning side and had the easiest road to the Quarters out of everyone. He failed to be the X factor against Real Madrid, KDB and Doku were the only ones wreaking havoc against Madrid's low block. I don't have a photographic memory so I can't fault specific goals on Rodri but all were in transition which is every CDM's job to stop.

Overrated Euros: 1 goal 0 assists -xAG: 1st Nico, 2nd Nico, 3rd Gapko, 4th Kimmich, 5th Olmo, 6th Kroos... Rodri, not top 10 -Pass %: 78th with 93%... Kroos with 95% -Key Passes: 1st Yamal, 2nd Erikson, 3rd Kimmich and Kroos... 6th Nico... Rodri is not top 10 -Passing Distance: 3rd Kroos... 9th Laporte... Rodri, not top 10 -Passes into Final 3rd: 1st Kroos... 3rd Laporte... Rodri 10th -Passes into PK Area: 1st Kimmich, 2nd Nico, 3rd Saka, 4th Yamal... Rodri, not top 10 -Progressive Passes: 1st Kroos... 4th Fabian... Rodri 7th, one less was Kimmich and Rice -Through Balls: 1st KDB, 2nd Jude and Olmo... Rodri, not top 10 -Corners: 1st Kroos... 4th Nico... Rodri 0 -Crosses: 2nd Kroos, 3rd Nico... Rodri, not top 10 -Shot Creating Actions: 1st Yamal, 2nd Kroos... 9th Olmo... Rodri, not top 10 -Shot Creating per 90: 2nd Pedri... 6th Kroos... 8th Yamal, 9th Kimmich, 10th Olmo... Rodri, not top 10 -Goal Creating Actions: 1st Olmo and Fabian, 2nd Jude, Gundogen, Yamal... Rodri not top 10 -Touches: 1st Rice... 4th Kroos... 8th Rodri -Tackles Won: 1. Rice... 4th Jude... 10th Rodri -Interceptions: 3rd Rice... 7th Kroos... Rodri, not top 10 -Sucessful Dribbles: 1st Jude and Mbappe... 5th Olmo and Saka, 7th Musiala and Nico, 9th Yamal and Fabian... Rodri not top 10 -Dribble Distance: 1st Laporte... 5th Jude, 6th Fabian... Rodri, not top 10 -Progressive Carries: 1st Nico, 2nd Yamal... 9th Jude... Rodri not top 10

Euro Summary: Rodri was not their best nor most important player on the team. He was at best their 5th best player behind Yamal, Nico, Olmo, and Fabian... Then even Laporte and Cucurella have a case for 5th best. He wasn't better than other deep playmakers like Kroos or Kimmich or as clinical as Musiala. In fact, Germany only lost the game to Spain by a CONFIRMED wrong call, where Spain was awarded a PK for a non-handball. had Yet somehow he gets the player of the tournament award for what? He didn't even play half the final. Nico was robbed.

Closing Thoughts: Rodri is a fantastic player. Without a doubt the best player in his position. But whether it’s the Ballon D’Or or any other MVP award I look for the moments. It’s why I always leaned toward CR7 and Benzema in the years they won it and understand the WC and CL bias. Rodri was lacking in those big moments. Despite all my respect for him as a footballer never did I feel like opponents feared Rodri like the way they did last Ballon D’Or winners like Messi, Ronaldo, and Zidane. Or even near winners like VVD, Henry, and Neymar. What’s funny is people say that the defensive midfielder role goes unnoticed, it’s not flashy, you don’t fear it like an attacker, they don’t have the aura of a world-class CB or GK. But this year I WATCHED Rodri. I WATCHED him in those two legs against Real Madrid fearing his later runs and power shots that never came.