The toesucking **** is, of course, absolutely correct.
Educated fans not only see how dominant and immensely talented Rodri is, but they understand how difficult it is to be
so dominant,
so consistently, especially in the defensive midfielder role,
especially under Pep.
That is simply not there with Vini Jr.
And, apart from Haaland in the treble season, it is rarely there for most forwards, even for pthe very best that have ever played.
Rodri’s role, in arguably the best and most physical/technical league in the world, requires levels of intelligence, focus, vision, stamina, and shear power of will that forwards are simply never expected to achieve, much less actually attain.
As someone that played that role, all the way through youth development levels and much lower level professional football for several years before a major knee injury effectively ended my career in my early 20s, I understand how difficult and thankless it can be. How easy it is to lose form or pick up an injury, struggle to consistently play at the level required, and be replaced with someone who can (or, at least, can be slightly more consistent).
But Rodri just gets on with it, never asking for recognition or accolades. He just quietly—or when he scores his now trademark thunderbastards, slightly less quietly—takes over football matches, makes all of his teammates better, and drives the team to excellence (and lots of silverware). And he does it over, and over, and over again.
He is so dominant that when he has a 7/10 game people start talking about whether he has peaked or if he is exhausted or carrying a knock or all manner of other conjecture.
He is the epitome of class, both in football and outside of it, as we see regularly at City and as was on show in his acceptance speech for the Ballon d’Or.
As many others have written, football won when he was awarded the trophy.
And the Ballon d’Or regained at least some small amount of credibility.