‘Disaster’ to ‘winning machine’ – is Rodri the best in the world?

With one defeat for club or country in the past 18 months, Manchester City’s Rodri has a strong claim to be the most influential player in the world right now.

In that time the Spain holding midfielder, 28, has won the Champions League, two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, Uefa Super Cup, Club World Cup, Nations League and Euro 2024.

Next up for Rodri is Sunday’s game against City’s title rivals Arsenal.

He missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury, having played 63 times for City and Spain last term, but returned against Brentford last weekend.

This week he claimed players are “close to” striking over the football calendar, and added: “If it keeps this way, it will be a moment that we have no other option.”

Since Rodri’s debut for City in 2019 they have lost 24% of matches without him in the team compared to 11% with him.

With the Ballon d’Or winner to be named next month, BBC Sport looks at just how important Rodri is.

Just how good is he?

The Ballon d’Or winner for the world’s best player will be announced on 28 October.

Rodri is the bookmakers’ second favourite, behind Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr, to lift the award.

With Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo winding their careers down outside of Europe, the award seems up for grabs in a way it has not for 15 years.

No defensive midfielder has won it since Lothar Matthaus in 1990.

French football journalist Julien Laurens, speaking on the BBC’s Euro Leagues podcast, said: “Rodri has been the best player in the world for two seasons now. He’s been outstanding in his position.

“He’s not a goalscorer, he doesn’t do nutmegs and skills and dribbling. But in his position, he is maybe the most intelligent player in the world right now.

“He’s been super decisive – he scored in the Champions League final the season before.

“For me he deserves the Ballon d’Or more than anyone else.”

Minay said: “No player in City’s history has ever won the Ballon d’Or.

“Erling Haaland’s barnstorming first season still saw him fall short when everyone thought he might scoop it.

“City are backing Rodri heavily from the inside. They feel he’s their best shot at the award from their nominated players in the men’s category.”

And what does Rodri himself think about the award? He would become the first Spanish player to win the award since Luis Suarez in 1960.

“It would be a dream, of course, because I never thought I could arrive to this stage,” said Rodri.

“I know I play a different role from most players that are nominated for these trophies but it also shows that football can be beautiful in different views, it can be beautiful playing as a midfielder or scoring goals or being a defender.

“We know how football works. There are a lot of people that appreciates the role of a midfielder so let’s see what happens.”