Rodri
Rodri is 30 years old in 2026, born on 22 June 1996. Spain Midfielder for Manchester City.
| Appearances | 2 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Yellow Cards | 0 |
| Red Cards | — |
| Goals / Match | 0.00 |
📖 Rodri: Biography & Story
Ballon d'Or winner: the world's finest defensive midfielder.
Rodri is the metronome. Wherever the ball is, wherever the danger comes from, Rodri is there, intercepting, winning second balls and then redistributing with intelligence that makes the game look slow. He is the rare midfielder who can do everything: defend, pass, press, shoot and lead.
Manchester City signed him from Atlético Madrid for £62.8 million in 2019 and he quickly established himself as the single most important player in Pep Guardiola's system. Without Rodri, City's record in matches is significantly worse than with him, a statistical reality that underlines his unique value. He was the heartbeat of City's historic treble season in 2022/23.
The 2024 Ballon d'Or was the culmination of his rise: the first midfielder to win it since Luka Modrić in 2018. His contribution to Spain's EURO 2024 victory, plus his Champions League performances, made him the unanimous choice. A serious ACL injury in September 2024 threatened to derail his season, but he recovered to excel at the 2026 World Cup with Spain. He subsequently underwent minor back surgery in July 2026 to address a disc problem. As he enters 2026/27, all eyes are on whether he can return to his pre-injury Ballon d'Or level.
🗺️ Career Journey
Developed through the Madrid youth structure
First senior football helped him develop physically
La Liga football gave him top-flight experience early
Became a senior regular; Europa League finalist
£62.8m signing; treble winner 2023; Ballon d'Or 2024
🏆 Honours & Achievements
👨👩👦 Personal Life & Family
Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, known universally as Rodri, was born on 22 June 1996 in Valencia, Spain. He grew up in Valencia and joined Atlético Madrid's academy as a teenager, though he was considered too slight at first. A loan spell at Villarreal B helped him develop physically and technically into one of the most complete midfielders in world football.
Rodri keeps his private life largely out of the spotlight. He was born and raised in Valencia and remains close to his family there. He has spoken in interviews about the importance of stability, having a clear mind off the pitch to perform to his maximum on it. He is unmarried and maintains a low public profile despite his status as one of the world's best players.
💡 Did You Know?: Rodri Trivia
He was the first midfielder to win the Ballon d'Or since Luka Modrić in 2018.
Manchester City's win percentage drops significantly without Rodri in the team: no other player has a more measurable statistical impact on the team's performance.
He suffered a serious ACL injury in September 2024 but made a remarkable recovery: performing outstandingly for Spain at the 2026 World Cup before undergoing minor back surgery in July 2026 to resolve a separate disc issue.
He represented Spain at the 2020 EURO (played in 2021) and helped Spain win EURO 2024, becoming a two-time European champion.
Despite his enormous fame, he studied at university and is known as one of the most intellectually curious players in football.
Rodri is a midfielder for Manchester City. Add them to your Fantasy XI within a 100-credit budget and score from their real match stats.
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