Rodri needs to win the Ballon d'Or! Almost-unbeatable midfielder makes Man City and Spain tick

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"The best holding midfielders don't appear on the front pages of newspapers," Pep Guardiola observed in February 2021.

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"They hide behind the team, but when the team plays well it is because they are outstanding."

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The Manchester City coach was alluding to Rodri, who had only been with the club for one and a half seasons at the time.

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Those words came immediately after a rare fallow spell for City, who had been left well behind Liverpool in the previous season.

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But they had since got back to their irresistible best, securing a 10th consecutive league win by thrashing Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield.

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Guardiola valued his work, but at the time the Spaniard's influence on City was understated.

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Indeed, Guardiola perhaps did not fully appreciate him either, as he left the Rodri on the bench for the Champions League final defeat by Chelsea

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He does not "hide behind the team", he is front of centre for club and country and last season won two of the most prestigious prizes in football

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Picture Puzzle IQ Test: Locate the word "friends" in the birthday party scenario in 5 seconds!

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