Only two Ballon d’Or winners have played for Manchester City – one of whom was the 34-year-old George Weah, who played just nine matches for the club as his career came to a close.
During the Blues’ illustrious treble-winning season of 2022/23, 25 players made first-team appearances. Notably, only one of them scored the decisive goal and was named Man of the Match in the club’s first UEFA Champions League final victory.
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Many of Manchester City’s recent stars have found success on the international stage, winning prestigious titles such as the European Championship and the World Cup.
However, only one player has lifted both trophies while also being named the best player of each tournament, and that player is Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante.
In the decade and a half of triumphs at East Manchester, no player at the Etihad Stadium has accrued as many honors for both club and country as Rodrigo.
This summer, Rodri added to his impressive trophy collection by captaining Spain to their second FIFA World Cup title, elevating his standing among the legends of Spanish football.
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It’s also worth discussing his legacy at Manchester City. While nostalgia can cloud judgment about current players compared to past favorites, we’ll delve into Rodri’s achievements over seven years with the club and how he may be remembered in the future.
After some initial challenges in his City career—mostly stemming from unrealistic fans’ expectations for him to immediately replicate the success of Fernandinho—Rodri quickly became a cornerstone of the team that consistently captured Premier League titles.
At various times, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden have provided crucial goals, while Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva consistently stepped up in critical moments, and Kevin de Bruyne maintained his elite form. Nevertheless, it often seemed that City’s success was tied to Rodri’s presence on the pitch.
During his Ballon d’Or-winning 2023/24 season, Rodri experienced defeat only once in a remarkable 75 matches—an FA Cup final loss to Manchester United. A red card against Nottingham Forest and an additional suspension caused him to miss four league matches, which City lost all of.
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The quest to find a suitable replacement for Rodri has proved challenging during his time at City, with Kalvin Phillips, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, and Nico Gonzalez being signed at considerable expense—but few have posed a serious challenge for his starting role.
As Rodri carves out his legacy, the question remains how City will approach the tough task of replacing the 30-year-old when the time comes. Let’s explore his unique achievements further.
Winning the 2024 Ballon d’Or distinguishes him from many others; to be recognized as the best player globally from a non-attacking position is a rare feat, with only Fabio Cannavaro (World Cup winner) and Luka Modric (World Cup finalist and Champions League winner) having accomplished it since 2000. The last recipient prior to Cannavaro to play as a defensive midfielder was Lothar Matthaus in 1990.
Given the current Ballon d’Or criteria emphasize team trophies in addition to individual merit, Rodri’s triumph in a year when Manchester City faltered in the Champions League quarter-finals highlights his significant achievement—especially considering his role in guiding Spain to victory as the standout player at Euro 2024.
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However, the Champions League is not absent from Rodri’s accomplishments. Before scoring the decisive goal in the 2023 final against Inter, he had already been exceptional during City’s iconic journey, including a spectacular long-range goal in the quarter-final against Bayern Munich, and standing out during a historic semi-final display against Real Madrid.
Adding to his tally are two FA Cups, three League Cups, two Community Shields, the UEFA Super Cup, and the previous version of the Club World Cup—along with his contributions to the unprecedented four consecutive Premier League titles, where he missed only 15 of 172 matches. Rodri’s club career is already distinguished.
On Sunday, he achieved a remarkable milestone, joining an elite group of only seven players in history who have won the World Cup, Ballon d’Or, Champions League, and either the European Championships or Copa America: Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, Zinedine Zidane, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, and now Rodri.
Overcoming an ACL injury that sidelined him for nearly an entire season, and that interrupted his following campaign, speaks volumes about his determination to further enhance his legacy.
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In a fitting parallel to our discussion, it brings to mind Kevin de Bruyne’s return from injury in a crucial match against Newcastle, which set off conversations about his status as one of the Premier League’s all-time greats.
When de Bruyne concluded his decade-long stint at Manchester City in 2025, recording 422 appearances, 108 goals, 170 assists, and an array of trophies, he was widely regarded as the club’s greatest player. This assessment remains largely upheld.
Yet, with Rodri’s achievements on the grandest stages—scoring the winner in the Champions League final, being named Player of the Tournament in both the Euros and the World Cup, and winning the elusive Ballon d’Or—his legacy is destined to be remembered globally, not just at Manchester City.
In summary, while De Bruyne’s career is arguably the best in City history, by the time Rodri retires, his résumé may shine even brighter in the annals of the club.
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Having a wealth of silverware only tells half the story of being considered among the best; one must also reflect on how exceptional a player one truly was.
So, what sets Rodri apart?
Greatness in sports doesn’t equate to perfection. The finest tennis players win slightly over half of the points they play in their careers, golfers don’t score hole-in-ones every time, and basketball stars miss three-pointers. Similarly, in football, no player completes every pass throughout a season, no striker scores every shot, and no goalkeeper can save all attempts faced.
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Perfection is unattainable, yet Rodri comes remarkably close.
In a football world dominated by offensive talent, Rodri stands out not just for his output—12 goals and 14 assists during his Ballon d’Or-winning campaign put him just behind Vinicius Junior, who many claimed was ‘robbed’ of the award—but for his overall efficiency and consistency.
Defensive midfielders often go unnoticed; Didier Deschamps was dubbed ‘the water-carrier’ for the French World Cup-winning squads of 1998 and 2000 for executing the less glamorous tasks that allow attackers to shine.
Rodri has elevated the reputation of the defensive midfielder, surpassing the legacies of predecessors, including Sergio Busquets and his former manager Pep Guardiola. He is on track to be recognized as the greatest ever in his position.
He is bound for legend status in football—and he has achieved this while wearing the colors of Manchester City.