MAN CITY ace Rodri is expected to win the Ballon d’Or after a remarkable year.
The Spanish midfielder, 28, was crucial to Spain’s win at the Euros in Germany, where he starred in the final against England.
While at the Etihad he is seen as Pep Guardiola’s most important player, even before Erling Haaland, contributing towards their Premier League title success last term.
A devastating ACL injury suffered against Arsenal has cut short his campaign this season.
But he has vowed to come back stronger next season for club and country.
Incredibly, he holds the record for the longest unbeaten streak in European football history, playing 74 matches until City were beaten by Real Madrid.
Despite all his success, Rodri has remained grounded and enjoys a modest lifestyle, keeping his personal life, including his relationship with Laura Iglesias, away from the public eye.
The Spaniard signed for City for £63million in 2019 and is now believed to earn a staggering £220,000-a-week, but he has opted not to adopt an extravagant lifestyle.
Instead, he has driven old cars and combined his football career with studying at university, all the while staying off social media.
Rodri has arguably been City’s most important player over the last few years.
And as a world class player in a world class team, it is unsurprising the midfielder is in the Ballon d’Or.
Spain team-mate Alvaro Morata reckoned Rodri would have picked up the gong after winning the Treble in 2023 if he was more marketable.
But Rodri had said in the past he was not bothered about winning the award or the acclaim that comes with it.
He explained in an interview with The Guardian: “I don’t play football for that.
“Maybe people would like me to be more marketable and he sometimes says: ‘Mate, you should…’ but I understand football differently.
“I know how it works so I don’t get frustrated if [I get overlooked for the award]. If one day someone wants to reward the work, that’s welcome, but it doesn’t bother me at all.”
Rodri joined City from Atletico Madrid but began his career at Villarreal where he spent time living in university halls while he was a student.
Shunning renting a posh apartment, Rodri lived in a shared space at the Universidad de Castellon in eastern Spain.
He studied Business Studies and Economics, and balanced a precarious football career with his degree, never missing a lecture.
His friend Valentin Henarejo recalled their time together, telling Marca: “People were shocked when they saw Rodri, who was playing in the top flight but still living at the university residence.
“After the first few days of getting to know him, there was normality.
“He shared a space with everyone, he liked being with his friends and sitting on the sofa with everyone.
“But, of course, at the start it was strange seeing him playing table tennis or doing his washing.”
Rodri and his partner Laura like to keep their personal life under wraps – with Laura’s Instagram kept private.
Laura is a medical student and is believed to be training to become a surgeon, with the pair meeting at university.
Rodri revealed she was confused to see a pro footballer in uni studying, but Laura has now become his biggest supporter and often posts videos of her celebrating her boyfriend’s goals.
The four-time Premier League winner revealed he often watches those videos back, saying: “When I get to score, I always have a video of Laura celebrating the goal at home and I always watch it in a locker room.”
Rodri’s stellar performances have led to a big pay rise since his move to the Etihad.
But he has turned away from the lavish spending lifestyles favoured by many of his team-mates in favour of a more low-key way of life.
When he passed his driver’s test Rodri decided against purchasing a Ferrari or Lamborghini, and instead bought a second-hand Opel Corsa from an elderly lady.
His friend Valentin said: “One time he told me that some friends were ‘crazy’ for buying nice cars, all that mattered was that it takes you from A to B and that’s all.”
Rodri has also stuck to a strict regime during his career with training taking precedence above everything else.
It has helped propel him to untouchable status for club and country, with many viewing him as the successor to Spain legend Sergio Busquets.
