Rodri lauded: The most underestimated maestro leading the team on a mad dash to Berlin – He’s the team’s lighthouse

On July 1st, Spain defeated Georgia 4-1 to advance to the quarter-finals of this European Championship. Rodri, the Spanish midfielder, was named MVP of the match and received widespread praise, with Mundo Deportivo hailing him as “the team’s axis and lighthouse.”

The article argues that the perception that this Spanish squad lacks superstars is misguided. Yeremy and Nico Williams are on their way to stardom, but Spain has long had one of the world’s best in his position, the underrated master Rodri. The City midfielder is an uncontested pivot under De La Fuente’s tutelage and a guiding light for the team.

In the game against Georgia, Rodri not only equalized with his weaker foot, settling the team’s nerves, but also statistically justified his MVP accolade: he achieved a 93.2% pass success rate in the opponent’s half (109 out of 117), winning all six of his duels. Rodri proved as unshakable as a final boss in a video game.

Although Rodri has started receiving the recognition he deserves lately, he remains somewhat undervalued as a footballer. For seasons now, he has consistently delivered outstanding performances at the highest level, yet rarely features among the world’s best players in public perception. For managers like Guardiola and De La Fuente, having Rodri is a blessing, and the team’s results speak for themselves.

At 28, Rodri has won virtually everything at club level and is now seeking national team accolades to match his predecessors’ glory. In two weeks’ time, perhaps in Berlin, Rodri and his teammates might make that breakthrough, shedding the label of “underrated master” once and for all.