10 things about Rodri
Rodri Hernández is a new FC Barcelona player. A footballer who prefers to stay away from the media spotlight, and that means social media too, he joins after being named the best player at the 2026 World Cup and having won the Ballon d'Or. And that's not all there is to know about the Madrid-born midfielder... you may already some of the following factoids, but there are sure to be others that are new to you!
Born in Madrid
Rodrigo Hernández Cascante was born in Madrid on 22 June 1996. That means another Madrid-born player will pull on the FC Barcelona shirt. He will be the 20th in the history of the Barça first team, following in the footsteps of players such as Marcos Alonso and Munir.
Cycling to training
When the new Barça player was part of Villarreal's second team, he used to cycle to training. He would take his bike on the train as part of his journey to the training ground.
Degree in Business Administration
As he began to make his mark at the highest level, Rodri combined football with a university degree in Business Administration and Management. He studied at Jaume I University in Castellón while playing for Villarreal. He was just another student, drinking sparkling water while his classmates went out partying. He eventually completed his degree when he was already a Manchester City player, having spent six years studying.
Low scorer on Comunio
While studying in Castellón, Rodri lived in a university hall of residence. His fellow students would jokingly complain that he had earned them too few points on the fantasy football game Comunio after Villarreal matches. Rodri made his debut for the club in 2015.
Three games at Spotify Camp Nou
Rodri already knows what it is like to play at his new home, Spotify Camp Nou, having played there wearing the shirts of Villarreal and Atlético Madrid. He suffered heavy defeats in his two games with the Yellow Submarine, while his appearance for the mattress-makers was also a Barça victory thanks to goals from Suárez and Messi.
Champions League winner
Despite playing as a holding midfielder, Rodri has a habit of making his presence felt at decisive moments. His ability to get forward and his excellent shooting from the edge of the area have seen him post goalscoring stats unusual for a player in his position. He scored the only goal in the 2023 Champions League final against Inter, securing Manchester City's first ever UCL title.
Ballon d'Or
In 2024, Rodri won the Ballon d'Or, becoming only the second Spanish footballer to claim the prestigious award, following former Barça player Luis Suárez in 1960. It's not the first time Barça have signed a winner of the biggest individual honour of football. Johan Cruyff and Allan Simonsen had also won it before coming to Catalonia.
Inspired by Piqué and Puyol
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Luis Enrique deployed Rodri at centre-back in all four of Spain's matches, with Sergio Busquets occupying his natural position. It was a new role for him, and to get the right idea of what was needed of him, he watched footage of Piqué and Puyol at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Busquets admirer
Sergio Busquets and Rodri shared the pitch for the Spanish national team. Much has been written comparing the two players, the past and present of the Barça midfield. In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the new Barça signing said "I watched Busquets a lot and absorbed the things he did better than me. He's the best holding midfielder of all time."
No social media
A major presence on the pitch with the ball at his feet, Rodri keeps a low profile away from it. He has no social media presence, preferring to keep his personal digital footprint to a minimum. Yet another example of a footballer who keeps his feet firmly on the ground.