Micah Richards has been left mesmerised after witnessing one Manchester City put in a masterful showing for their national team at the European Championship.
The likes of Phil Foden and Kyle Walker were far from their brilliant best during England’s 2-1 win against Slovakia in the Round of 16 at Euro 2024.
John Stones was solid but not spectacular as Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane saved the Three Lions from undergoing one of the worst defeats in their storied history. It seemed like a repeat of England’s 2-1 defeat to Iceland in the last-16 of Euro 2016 was set to occur before Bellingham’s late acrobatic strike.
Rodri and Spain, on the other hand, were in cruise control against Georgia in their 4-1 thrashing of Willy Sagnol’s plucky underdogs.
Micah Richards raves about Rodri after Spain demolish Georgia
Even after Robin Le Normand’s early own goal, Luis de la Fuente’s side did not give the impression that they were in trouble.
Instead, the Spaniards played their natural game and eventually won the game, courtesy of goals from Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo.
Spain arguably put in the best performance of the tournament and it would not be a stretch to claim that they seem better-placed to beat Germany in the quarter-finals based on current form.
Discussing the game on The Rest Is Football podcast, Micah Richards claimed that Rodri is virtually flawless after his outstanding display on Sunday night.
Richards said: “Yeah but it helps when you’ve got Rodri absolutely dictating play, doesn’t it?”
“[Fabian] Ruiz was fantastic as well.”
The pundit continued: “He’s so good.”
“And his touch for the goal, he’s just got everything, hasn’t he? He’s improved so much since he first came to Man City.”
Not just Micah Richards but even Chris Sutton lauded Rodri for how fantastic he is at dictating the tempo of a game.
Rodri could emerge as a serious Ballon d’Or contender if Spain win Euro 2024
The £220,000-a-week man does not have much to prove in terms of being one of the most consistent and best midfielders in the world.
Yet, the four-time Premier League winner continues to reach new heights in terms of his performances every time he puts on either a Manchester City or a Spain shirt.
If the Spanish do win the European Championship for the first time since 2012, Rodri could emerge as a serious contender to lift the Ballon d’Or this year.
Having come off the back of yet another exceptional campaign for City, the 28-year-old has remained extraordinary for Spain and if his team manage to get over the line, there will not be another player in world football who has performed at the level he has for both club and country over the past 12 months.
In fairness, Rodri could already attest to being the most consistent player at both club and international level out of his contemporaries but silverware in Germany could solidify his claim and make him a potential frontrunner to win the Ballon d’Or.
