Manchester City could be without Rodri for the rest of the season after the influential midfielder suffered a serious knee injury in the Premier League game against Arsenal on September 22.
Spain's Ballon d'Or frontrunner went down clutching the back of his right knee midway through the first half of the action-packed 2-2 draw, after he appeared to stumble making a near-post run to attack a right-wing corner.
Rodri was helped from the field by two members of City's medical staff and replaced by Mateo Kovacic, the Croatia midfielder who had a hand in John Stones' dramatic 98th-minute equaliser.
Both City manager Pep Guardiola and defender Manuel Akanji said they were unsure of Rodri's prognosis when asked after the game, but reports by The Athletic and ESPN appear to have now confirmed the Premier League champions' worst fears.
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Rodri injury updates: Ballon d'Or candidate might be out for the season
The Athletic reported that Rodri is "ruled out for a significant period of time" after tests revealed a serious injury. There is no prognosis at this stage as the 28-year-old will now head to Spain for further examinations.
ESPN said Rodri has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and is likely to undergo surgery in Barcelona, which tallies with City using Guardiola's preferred surgeon Dr Ramon Cugat for such serious injuries.
Two days after the match, Richard Jolly of The Independent reported that while Man City still do not know the extent of Rodri's injury or how long he'll be out, they do know it will be "definitely a while." This is relatively common for ACL injuries where swelling can often hinder full testing, and a few days or even weeks of rest are required before scans or surgical repair can be viable.
The match against Arsenal was Rodri's first Premier League start of this season after he sustained a hamstring problem during Spain's 2-1 victory over England in the final of Euro 2024.
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Rodri injured after suggesting players' strike
Rodri's injury occurred at the end of a week when he said the increased workload on players brought about by the expanding football calendar could force a strike.
“Yes, I think we are close to that. If it keeps this way we will have no other option. It is something that worries us," he said.
“Between 40 and 50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform at the highest level. After that you drop because it is impossible to sustain the physical level. This year we are maybe going to go until 70 or maybe 80. In my humble opinion, I think it is too much.
“Someone has to take care of us because we are the main characters of this, let’s say, sport, or business, whatever you want to call it.
“Not everything is about money or marketing. It is about the quality of the show. In my opinion, when I am not tired I perform better. If people want to see better football then we need to rest.”
Rodri played 4,327 minutes across 50 games for City last season as Guardiola's men retained the Premier League title. If City reach the final of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup — a tournament they qualified for on account of Rodri's winning goal in the 2023 final against Inter Milan — their 2024/25 season will end after 11 months on July 13 next year.
How serious is Rodri's injury?
The ACL connects the patella (knee) cap to the femur above it and the tibia below.
It is widely considered to be one of the worst injuries a football can suffer.
An ACL tear usually takes between six to nine months to heal and footballers can be out for up to a year as they build fitness along with strength mobility and confidence in the joint.
As such, Rodri missing the rest of the European club season, which concludes with the UEFA Champions League final in Munich on May 31, is absolutely feasible.
What is Man City's record without Rodri?
City only lost three Premier League games last season against Wolves, Arsenal and Aston Villa — all matches that Rodri missed through suspension.
The 2-1 loss to Manchester United in May's FA Cup brought to an end his incredible run of 74 matches unbeaten across all competitions.
Guardiola's men have fared better without their talisman during the early stages of this season, winning games against Chelsea, Ipswich Town and West Ham as Rodri sat out, with Kovacic, Bernardo Silva and Rico Lewis patrolling central areas.
Will Rodri win the Ballon d'Or?
Rodri is one of the frontrunners for the Ballon d'Or alongside Real Madrid duo Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior after his influential role in continuing City's Premier League dominance.
The former Atletico Madrid and Villarreal man was also central to Spain's Euro 2024 success, a year on from sealing City's historic treble with his decisive Champions League strike against Inter in Istanbul.