Manchester City’s midfield general is focused on team success not individual accolades

Manchester City’s midfield general Rodri is focused on more team success than individual awards. The Spanish international has become the premier midfielder in world football since arriving at the Etihad.

To further emphasise this fact Manchester City’s midfield general hasn’t played in a City loss since February 5th, 2023 when his team lost 1-nil to Tottenham. Since that defeat the treble winners have won the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

While adding titles to his collection Rodri is clearly one of Manchester City’s most important players. His influence on his team is such that it is hard to find a player in world football who exerts so much influence on their team. The fact Rodri does it for a team that is so successful would ordinarily leave him as a prime contender for football’s biggest individual awards.

But that wasn’t the case with the recent Ballon d’Or. Rodri finished fifth behind Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Kevin De Bruyne. The role Rodri plays doesn’t lens itself to winning football’s biggest individual awards. That fact highlights the absurdity of football’s annual awards.

In an interview with the Daily Mail Manchester City’s midfield general wasn’t surprised to miss out on the Ballon d’Or. Rodri told the Daily Mail : “‘I am not surprised.. This is normal. I understand very well how things work in these individual awards. They are based on marketing, money and advertising.”

But despite the snub Rodri would rather focus on more silverware with Manchester City. He added: “What ultimately matters to me in football Is what I achieved collectively.”