| Date of Birth | 22 June 1996 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | Madrid, Spain |
| Nationality | Spain |
| Height | 190 cm |
| Weight | 82 kg |
Biography
Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, known as Rodri, was born on 22 June 1996 in Madrid. At the age of 11, he joined the Atlético academy, but in 2013 he was released due to “insufficient physical power” and continued his development at Villarreal.
He made his La Liga debut in 2016, quickly established himself as a regular starter, and extended his contract until 2022. In 2018, he returned to Atlético Madrid, where he won the UEFA Super Cup by defeating Real Madrid in the final.
In 2019, he transferred to Manchester City for £62.6 million — a record fee for the club at the time. With City, Rodri became a key figure in Pep Guardiola’s team, winning four consecutive Premier League titles (2020–2024). In the 2022–23 season, he scored the winning goal in the Champions League final against Inter, securing the club’s first-ever title in the competition and a historic treble. He was named the Champions League Player of the Season.
In 2024, Rodri won the Ballon d’Or, becoming the second Spaniard in history after Luis Suárez (1960) and the first Manchester City player to receive the award. Despite suffering a serious cruciate ligament injury in September 2024, he returned to the pitch in May 2025.
He made his debut for the Spain national team in 2018. He won the 2023 Nations League (Player of the Tournament) and Euro 2024, where he was named the best player of the championship.
Personal Life
Rodri is known for his private and reserved lifestyle. During his time at Villarreal, he simultaneously studied at Jaume I University in Castellón and earned a degree in Business Administration and Management.
At university, he met his girlfriend Laura, who was studying medicine. Rodri avoids an active presence on social media and prefers to keep his personal life out of the public spotlight.
Interesting Facts
- As a child, he was released from Atlético’s academy for “lack of physical strength,” but years later returned as a key player.
- In the 2023 Champions League final, he scored the only goal of the match, giving City their first title in the competition’s history.
- In the 2023–24 season, he became the most involved Premier League player in attacking build-up sequences.
- At Euro 2024, he was named Player of the Tournament, demonstrating 92% passing accuracy.
- At the 2022 World Cup, he was used as a central defender, highlighting his versatility.
- Pep Guardiola called him “the best midfielder in the world right now,” and many experts consider him the benchmark of the modern defensive midfielder.
