MAN CITY ace Rodri is expected to triumph the Ballon d'Or aft a singular year.
The Spanish midfielder, 28, was important to Spain's triumph astatine the Euros successful Germany, wherever helium starred successful the last against England.
While astatine the Etihad helium is seen arsenic Pep Guardiola's astir important player, adjacent earlier Erling Haaland, contributing towards their Premier League rubric occurrence past term.
A devastating ACL injury suffered against Arsenal has chopped abbreviated his run this season.
But helium has vowed to travel backmost stronger adjacent play for nine and country.
Incredibly, helium holds the grounds for the longest unbeaten streak successful European shot history, playing 74 matches until City were beaten by Real Madrid.
Despite each his success, Rodri has remained grounded and enjoys a humble lifestyle, keeping his idiosyncratic life, including his narration with Laura Iglesias, distant from the nationalist eye.
The Spaniard signed for City for £63million successful 2019 and is present believed to gain a staggering £220,000-a-week, but helium has opted not to follow an extravagant lifestyle.
Instead, helium has driven aged cars and combined his shot vocation with studying astatine university, each the portion staying disconnected societal media.
Ballon bore
Rodri has arguably been City's astir important subordinate implicit the past fewer years.
And arsenic a satellite people subordinate successful a satellite people team, it is unsurprising the midfielder is successful the Ballon d'Or.
Rodri officially retired for play aft undergoing country successful devastating stroke for Man City prima
Spain team-mate Alvaro Morata reckoned Rodri would person picked up the gong aft winning the Treble successful 2023 if helium was much marketable.
But Rodri had said successful the past helium was not bothered astir winning the grant oregon the acclaim that comes with it.
He explained successful an interrogation with The Guardian: "I don’t play shot for that.
"Maybe radical would similar maine to beryllium much marketable and helium sometimes says: 'Mate, you should…' but I recognize shot differently.
"I cognize however it works truthful I don’t get frustrated if [I get overlooked for the award]. If 1 time idiosyncratic wants to reward the work, that’s welcome, but it doesn’t fuss maine astatine all."
Living successful uni halls
Rodri joined City from Atletico Madrid but began his vocation astatine Villarreal wherever helium spent clip surviving successful assemblage halls portion helium was a student.
Shunning renting a posh apartment, Rodri lived successful a shared abstraction astatine the Universidad de Castellon successful eastbound Spain.
He studied Business Studies and Economics, and balanced a precarious shot vocation with his degree, ne'er missing a lecture.
His person Valentin Henarejo recalled their clip together, telling Marca: "People were shocked erstwhile they saw Rodri, who was playing successful the apical formation but inactive surviving astatine the assemblage residence.
"After the archetypal fewer days of getting to cognize him, determination was normality.
"He shared a abstraction with everyone, helium liked being with his friends and sitting connected the sofa with everyone.
"But, of course, astatine the commencement it was unusual seeing him playing array tennis oregon doing his washing."
Private life
Rodri and his spouse Laura similar to support their idiosyncratic beingness nether wraps - with Laura's Instagram kept private.
Laura is simply a aesculapian pupil and is believed to beryllium grooming to go a surgeon, with the brace gathering astatine university.
Rodri revealed she was confused to spot a pro footballer successful uni studying, but Laura has present go his biggest protagonist and often posts videos of her celebrating her boyfriend's goals.
The four-time Premier League victor revealed helium often watches those videos back, saying: "When I get to score, I ever person a video of Laura celebrating the extremity astatine location and I ever ticker it successful a locker room."
Modest lifestyle
Rodri's stellar performances person led to a large wage emergence since his determination to the Etihad.
But helium has turned distant from the lavish spending lifestyles favoured by galore of his team-mates successful favour of a much low-key mode of life.
When helium passed his driver's trial Rodri decided against purchasing a Ferrari oregon Lamborghini, and alternatively bought a second-hand Opel Corsa from an aged lady.
His person Valentin said: "One clip helium told maine that immoderate friends were 'crazy' for buying nice cars, each that mattered was that it takes you from A to B and that's all."
Rodri has besides stuck to a strict authorities during his vocation with grooming taking precedence supra everything else.
It has helped propel him to untouchable presumption for nine and country, with galore viewing him arsenic the successor to Spain fable Sergio Busquets.