Rodri stands tall on top of the world after year of glory and pain
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The Manchester City midfielder becomes the sixth player to top our ranking of the world’s best 100 male footballers. One of the worst things about seeing Rodri in agony on the pitch against Arsenal in September – and the subsequent news that he had ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament – was the he had criticised the workload being put on players in the buildup to the injury. It was as if he knew something bad was about to happen.
![[Marcus Christenson]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/11/10/Marcus_Christenson,_L.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
In April, after an epic 3-3 draw at Real Madrid the Manchester City and Spain midfielder said: “I do need a rest.” He added: “Let’s see how we speak, how we live the situation. Sometimes it is what it is. I need to adjust. It [rest] is something we are planning, yes.”.
![[Declan Rice of Arsenal holds a football in one hand.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2a6bc53dd67c6a51b1058835662a511c8ca9a0d5/0_139_5885_3532/master/5885.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
His club manager, Pep Guardiola, said that if Rodri needed a rest he would get a rest but in the end the midfielder missed only the game against Luton in the Premier League, although he was taken off 11 minutes early against Brighton with City 4-0 up.
![[The Guardian's top 10 male footballers in the world 2024 – video]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6aeff8e0dd68e2ba935d4cbba0b65b227c42cdcf/0_0_1920_1080/1920.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Only a week before the 2-2 draw against Arsenal when he sustained the injury Rodri said players were prepared to go on strike over the calendar. “I think we are close to that – it is easy to understand,” he said. “If you ask any player he will say the same; it is not the opinion of Rodri or whatever. It’s the general opinion of the players. And if it keeps this way, there will be a moment where we have no other option. It’s something that worries us because we are the guys that suffer.”.
