Midfield Maestro Hailed as “Best in the World” by Guardiola After Dominant Club World Cup Display
Rodri’s long-awaited return to Manchester City’s starting lineup proved transformative as the Spanish midfielder orchestrated a commanding 5-2 victory over Juventus in their final Club World Cup group stage match on Tuesday night.
Making his first start since September after recovering from injury, the 27-year-old delivered a 66-minute masterclass that had manager Pep Guardiola declaring him “the best player in the world” during post-match comments.
“We missed him terribly, no question,” Guardiola told reporters, his voice brimming with admiration. “What team could lose the best player in the world and not suffer? His composure, his intelligence – he makes the game look simple.”
Rodri’s presence immediately stabilized City’s play, with his metronomic passing and positional awareness allowing teammates to flourish. The midfield general completed 94% of his passes and made three key interceptions before being substituted to a standing ovation from the traveling City supporters.
While Erling Haaland stole some spotlight by scoring his 300th career goal (reaching the milestone faster than Messi, Ronaldo or Mbappé), it was Rodri’s invisible influence that truly defined the match. His return coincided with City’s most complete performance in months, sparking hopes of a tournament challenge after last season’s trophyless campaign.
“The belief comes from performances like tonight,” Guardiola emphasized. “For months we’ve known what was missing. Today, with Rodri back, we remembered who we are.”
The victory secures City’s place in the last 16 where they’ll face Al Hilal in the early hours of Tuesday morning (UK time). For Juventus, the heavy defeat leaves their tournament future in serious doubt.
— Reporting from Exploria Stadium
Key Stats: Rodri’s Impact
• 94% pass accuracy (68/72 completed)
• 3 key interceptions
• 8/9 duels won
• City’s win percentage with Rodri: 87% (vs 53% without this season)
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