Rodri (footballer, born 1996) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Hernández and the second or maternal family name is Cascante.

Quick facts for kids
Rodri

Rodri playing for Spain in 2019

Personal information

Full name

Rodrigo Hernández Cascante

Date of birth

22 June 1996 (age 29)

Place of birth

Madrid, Spain

Height

1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)

Position(s)

Defensive midfielder

Team information

Current team

Manchester City

Number

Youth career

2006–2007

Rayo Majadahonda

2007–2013

Atlético Madrid

2013–2015

Villarreal

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps

(Gls)

2015–2016

Villarreal B

(1)

2015–2018

Villarreal

(1)

2018–2019

Atlético Madrid

(3)

2019–

Manchester City

175

(22)

International career^‡

2012

Spain U16

(0)

2015

Spain U19

(0)

2017

Spain U21

(1)

2018–

Spain

(4)

Medal record

UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Men's football
Representing Spain
UEFA European Championship
Winner	2024 Germany
UEFA Nations League
Winner	2023 Netherlands
Runner-up	2021 Italy
Runner-up	2017 Poland
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winner	2015 Greece

*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:14, 20 May 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:21, 8 September 2024 (UTC)

Rodrigo Hernández Cascante (born on June 22, 1996), known as Rodri, is a Spanish professional footballer. He plays as a defensive midfielder for the English club Manchester City and the Spain national team. Many people consider him one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. He is known for his excellent passing, ability to create plays, and strong physical presence on the field.

Rodri played for Villarreal and Atlético Madrid in Spain before joining Manchester City in 2019. He helped Manchester City win the Premier League four times in a row. In the 2022–23 season, he was a key player when the team won a historic "treble." This means they won three major trophies: the Premier League, the FA Cup, and their first ever UEFA Champions League title. Rodri scored the only goal in the Champions League final and was named the tournament's best player.

He also plays for the Spanish national team. He helped Spain win the UEFA Nations League in 2023 and was named the best player of the finals. Rodri was also a very important part of Spain's victory at Euro 2024, where he was named the Player of the Tournament. In October 2024, Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d'Or, an award for the world's best footballer. He was the first Manchester City player and the second Spanish male player to win this award.

Rodri's Football Journey
Rodri's International Career
How Rodri Plays
- Style of Play
- What People Say About Rodri
Rodri's Life Outside Football
Career Statistics
- Club
- International
Honours and Awards
See also

Rodri's Football Journey

Starting Out in Youth Teams

Rodrigo Hernández Cascante was born in Madrid, Spain. He joined Atlético Madrid's youth academy when he was 11 years old in 2007. Before that, he played for CF Rayo Majadahonda. In 2013, he left Atlético Madrid because they thought he wasn't strong enough physically. After leaving, he signed with Villarreal.

On February 7, 2015, Rodri played his first senior game for Villarreal's reserve team. He came on as a substitute in a 3–1 win. He got his first start 15 days later.

Rodri made his debut for Villarreal's first team on December 17, 2015. He started in a 2–0 win in the Copa del Rey cup. His first game in La Liga, Spain's top league, was on April 17, 2016. He came on as a substitute in a match against Rayo Vallecano.

By December 2017, Rodri had become a regular player for Villarreal. He signed a new contract that would keep him at the club until 2022. He scored his first goal in La Liga on February 18, 2018, in a 1–1 draw against RCD Espanyol.

Returning to Atlético Madrid

On May 24, 2018, Rodri went back to Atlético Madrid. The club agreed to pay Villarreal about €20 million for him. He signed a five-year contract. His first game back was on August 15 in the 2018 UEFA Super Cup against their rivals Real Madrid. Atlético Madrid won the match 4–2 after extra time.

Joining Manchester City

First Season in England: 2019–2020

On July 3, 2019, Manchester City paid Rodri's release clause, which was about £62.6 million. This allowed him to leave Atlético Madrid and join City. It was a new record fee paid by Manchester City at the time. He signed a five-year contract with the club.

Rodri played his first game for Manchester City on August 4, 2019, in the 2019 FA Community Shield. City won against Liverpool on penalties after a 1–1 draw. He made his Premier League debut six days later in a 5–0 win against West Ham United. On September 14, he scored his first goal for City in a 3–2 loss to Norwich City.

In October 2019, Rodri had a hamstring injury and was out for about a month. On March 1, 2020, City won the EFL Cup for the third time in a row. Rodri scored City's second goal with a header in the 2–1 win against Aston Villa in the final.

Winning Trophies and the Treble: 2020–Present

Rodri playing for Manchester City in 2023

On February 13, 2021, Rodri scored City's first goal from a penalty in a 3–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. During the 2021–22 season, Rodri was known for his amazing passing. He had a 91.8% pass completion rate, which was the best among all midfielders in the Premier League.

On July 12, 2022, Rodri signed a new contract with Manchester City until 2027. On April 11, 2023, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in a 3–0 win against Bayern Munich. On June 10, he scored the only goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan. This goal secured City's first Champions League title and completed their historic "treble." Rodri was named the best player of the match and the best player of the entire tournament.

On September 23, 2023, Rodri received his first red card in the Premier League. He was sent off for reacting to a tackle against Nottingham Forest. Manchester City lost all three games he was suspended for. He was also suspended after getting his fifth yellow card, and City lost that game too.

On May 19, 2024, Rodri scored a crucial goal in Manchester City's 3–1 win over West Ham United on the last day of the season. This win made Manchester City the first club in English history to win the league four times in a row. Rodri also reached 50 consecutive undefeated Premier League matches with his club.

On September 22, 2024, Rodri had to leave a game against Arsenal due to a serious knee injury. This injury kept him out for most of the 2024–25 season. In October 2024, he was awarded the 2024 Ballon d'Or, recognizing him as the best player in the world. He made his return from injury on May 20, 2025, coming on as a substitute in a 3–1 win against Bournemouth.

Rodri's International Career

Rodri played for Spain's national teams at different age levels, including under-16, under-19, and under-21. He was first called up to the senior national team on March 16, 2018. He made his debut five days later in a 1–1 draw against Germany.

Playing for Spain: 2018–2021

After not being chosen for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Rodri was part of Spain's squad for their first UEFA Nations League games in September 2018. He made his competitive debut on September 11 in a 6–0 win against Croatia. A month later, Rodri started his first game for Spain in a 4–1 friendly win against Wales.

Rodri played in many of Spain's games during the qualifying rounds for Euro 2020. On November 17, 2020, he scored his first goal for the senior national team. It was in Spain's 6–0 win over Germany in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League. This win helped Spain reach the finals of the tournament.

In June 2021, Rodri was part of Spain's squad for the UEFA Euro 2020 finals. He played in the first two matches. Spain reached the semi-finals but lost to Italy in a penalty shootout.

In October 2021, Rodri was in Spain's squad for the Nations League finals. He started in the final match, where Spain lost 2–1 to France.

World Cup and Nations League Success: 2022–2023

Rodri was part of Spain's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He played as a central defender in all three of Spain's group stage matches. Spain was eliminated in the Round of 16 after losing to Morocco in a penalty shootout.

After Sergio Busquets retired from international football in December 2022, Rodri took over his important role as Spain's main defensive midfielder. On March 28, 2023, he captained the team for the first time in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Scotland.

In June 2023, Rodri was named the Player of the Finals for the 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals. He played in both the semi-final and the final. Spain won the final against Croatia in a penalty shootout, and Rodri scored his penalty kick. He was named the best player of the tournament.

On March 26, 2024, Rodri captained Spain again in a friendly match against Brazil. He scored two goals from penalty kicks in the 3–3 draw.

UEFA Euro 2024 Victory

In June 2024, Rodri was selected for Spain's squad for UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany. In a warm-up match, he earned his 50th cap (game) for Spain.

He played a key role in Spain's opening match of the tournament, a 3–0 win over Croatia. Rodri helped Spain reach and win the UEFA Euro 2024 final. He had an outstanding tournament, scoring one goal and having a 92% passing accuracy. Spain defeated England 2–1 to win their fourth European Championship. Rodri was awarded the best player of the tournament. He also became one of only 12 players to win both youth and senior Euro titles.

How Rodri Plays

Style of Play

Rodri is a very strong and tall player. His physical strength helps him win tackles and challenges against opponents. He is also very good at winning aerial duels (heading the ball). He has a high success rate in tackles and wins almost all of his aerial duels. His passing accuracy is usually around 91–92%.

Rodri is also known for being very versatile and smart on the field. He helps his team build up plays from the back. His main job is to win the ball back in midfield and then pass it to start counterattacks. He can keep possession of the ball even when under pressure, which helps him do his job well.

Under his coach Pep Guardiola, Rodri's role has changed how the "holding midfielder" position is played. He is very smart about where he positions himself and stays calm under pressure. He often plays between the central defenders to help start attacks and keep the ball. This allows the team to move smoothly from defense to attack. His accurate passing and awareness of space make him a central figure in Guardiola's system.

Besides his defensive skills, Rodri is also a great passer and has good vision. This allows him to play as a "deep-lying playmaker" from the middle of the field. In the 2023–24 season, he was involved in more plays than any other player in his team or the Premier League. He is also known for his ability to control the speed of the game.

Sometimes, he has even played as a central defender, especially for the national team during the 2022 World Cup. During his time at Manchester City, he also worked on scoring more goals. He became known for his powerful long-range shots, like the one that won the Champions League final in 2023. Even though he is not known for being super fast, experts say he can catch up to much faster attackers in midfield. Rodri won the Ballon d'Or in 2024 because of his amazing performances.

What People Say About Rodri

Many football experts believe Rodri is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. In January 2024, some ESPN FC staff even discussed if he was the best player in the world at that time. In March 2024, his Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola called him "the best midfield player, currently, in the world by far." That same month, The New York Times rated him as the best player in the Premier League. Former defender Rio Ferdinand even said Rodri might be the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League's history.

He was nominated for the 2023 Ballon d'Or and finished fifth. He then won the 2024 Ballon d'Or, beating players like Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal.

Rodri's Life Outside Football

While he was a youth player at Villarreal, Rodri studied at the Jaume I University for four years. He earned a degree in business administration and management. At university, he met his long-term girlfriend, Laura, who was studying medicine. Rodri prefers not to use social media.

Career Statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Europe		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Villarreal B	2014–15	Segunda División B	7	0	—		—		—		—		7	0
	2015–16	Segunda División B	32	1	—		—		—		2	1	34	2
	Total		39	1	—		—		—		2	1	41	2
Villarreal	2015–16	La Liga	3	0	3	0	—		0	0	—		6	0
	2016–17	La Liga	23	0	4	0	—		4	1	—		31	1
	2017–18	La Liga	37	1	4	0	—		6	0	—		47	1
	Total		63	1	11	0	—		10	1	—		84	2
Atlético Madrid	2018–19	La Liga	34	3	4	0	—		8	0	1	0	47	3
Manchester City	2019–20	Premier League	35	3	4	0	4	1	8	0	1	0	52	4
	2020–21	Premier League	34	2	4	0	5	0	10	0	—		53	2
	2021–22	Premier League	33	7	2	0	0	0	10	0	1	0	46	7
	2022–23	Premier League	36	2	4	0	3	0	12	2	1	0	56	4
	2023–24	Premier League	34	8	4	0	0	0	8	1	4	0	50	9
	2024–25	Premier League	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	0	8	0
	Total		175	22	18	0	12	1	49	3	11	0	265	26
Career total			311	27	33	0	12	1	67	4	14	1	437	33

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Spain	2018	4	0
	2019	7	0
	2020	6	1
	2021	13	0
	2022	9	0
	2023	9	0
	2024	9	3
Total		57	4

Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Rodri goal

List of international goals scored by Rodri
No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	17 November 2020	Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, Spain	17	Germany	3–0	6–0	2020–21 UEFA Nations League A
2	26 March 2024	Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain	49	Brazil	1–0	3–3	Friendly
3	26 March 2024	Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain	49	Brazil	3–2	3–3	Friendly
4	30 June 2024	RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany	53	Georgia	1–1	4–1	UEFA Euro 2024