Rodri
Footballer
Rodri is a Spanish defensive midfielder and the winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or. His career includes Villarreal, Atlético Madrid and Manchester City, where he scored the winning goal in the 2023 Champions League final.
- Country
- Spain
- Club
- Barcelona
- Born
- 22 Jun 1996
Biography sources
Rodri photos
Photo credits
- With Spain at the 2026 World Cup final. · Bryan Berlin · Wikimedia Commons · Bryan Berlin ↗ · Licence
- Rodri and Laura Iglesias after the EURO 2024 final. · Town & Country ↗
- Celebrating his Ballon d’Or. · Ballon d’Or ↗
- Laura Iglesias speaking during Manchester City’s interview at the driving range. · Manchester City ↗
- Laura Iglesias and Rodri during Manchester City’s interview at Trafford Golf Centre. · Manchester City ↗
- Laura Iglesias and Rodri sharing a light moment at Trafford Golf Centre. · Manchester City ↗
- Signing for Manchester City in July 2019. · Manchester City ↗
- With the Community Shield in August 2019. · Manchester City ↗
- With the Carabao Cup in March 2020. · Manchester City ↗
- With the Carabao Cup in April 2021. · Manchester City ↗
- Celebrating the 2020/21 Premier League title. · Manchester City ↗
- Celebrating his goal against Aston Villa. · Manchester City ↗
- Thanking the Etihad crowd. · Manchester City ↗
- Celebrating a goal for Manchester City. · Manchester City ↗
- With a Premier League trophy. · Manchester City ↗
- With the FA Cup at Wembley. · Manchester City ↗
- Playing for Manchester City. · Manchester City ↗
- Lifting the Champions League trophy. · Manchester City ↗
- With Manchester City’s treble winners. · Manchester City ↗
- Celebrating at the Etihad Stadium. · Manchester City ↗
- With his Premier League winner’s medal. · Manchester City ↗
- With his Ballon d’Or. · Manchester City ↗
- Celebrating a Carabao Cup win at Wembley. · Manchester City ↗
- At Manchester City’s trophy parade. · Manchester City ↗
Career and background
Alongside his playing career, Rodri completed a degree in Business Administration and Management at Jaume I University in Castellón. He began studying while at Villarreal and finished during his Manchester City years, taking six years to complete the course. During his early professional career he lived in a university residence; while playing for Villarreal B, he combined train and bicycle journeys to get to training.Source: FC Barcelona ↗
Relationship history
Rodri is in a long-term relationship with Laura Iglesias, whom he met while they were students in Castellón. Their relationship predates his Manchester City years. He publicly thanked her at the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony, and they have occasionally shared appearances at football events.
Relationship sources
- Laura Iglesias El País ↗