Why Rodrygo will soon be considered a Real Madrid legend

Real Madrid returned to the top of La Liga last weekend with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Granada. In this instance, Jude Bellingham wasn’t on hand to provide the goals, it was Brahim Díaz and Rodrygo, the latter of which has netted in the club’s last five matches. 

In fact, in such a period the Brazilian has scored seven goals and provided four assists. He now boasts a WhoScored rating of 7.58 when playing as a centre-forward. 

It’s been a remarkable story for Rodrygo. He impressed at Santos, earning a Brazil call-up, before making a €45m move to Real Madrid at the tender age of 18 in 2019. 

Rodrygo marked his debut for the first team by scoring a league goal against Osasuna within a minute. Later that year, at still just 18 years of age, he achieved his first hat-trick and contributed an assist in a remarkable 6–0 victory against Galatasaray.  

In the 2022/23 season, Rodrygo emerged as a key figure for Los Blancos as they secured their 35th La Liga title. He cemented his spot as a Real Madrid icon in the dramatic Champions League semi-final clash against Manchester City that he scored two late goals to equalise the tie, with the Spanish side progressing to final with a 6–5 aggregate triumph. 

His consistent ability to deliver in crucial moments has made him something of a cult hero at Madrid but this season has proved him to be more than just that; he is on a trajectory now to become a club legend.  

Rodrygo’s Transfer Value - how much is he worth?  

FootballTransfers’ Estimated Transfer value ranks Rodrygo at €84.6m, the highest it’s ever been for the attacker. Real Madrid bought him when he was valued at €32.7m, and it’s been a sharp rise since, approaching a three-fold increase to the present.

FootballTransfers also value Rodrygo as the second Most Valuable wide playmaker and the second Most Valuable Brazilian Player. Given his young age of 22, it’s likely that his valuation will rise still further. In recognition of Rodrygo's form, Real Madrid extended his contract last month until 2028.  

Rodrygo’s strengths and weaknesses - what does the data say?

It's this season that we’re seeing something quite special from the Brazilian, having scored nine goals and provided five assist in 20 matches in all competitions so far. 

Rodrygo exhibits exceptional prowess in various aspects of his game, showcasing remarkable skills in dribbling, passing, and ball retention without displaying any notable weaknesses. Throughout this campaign, his statistics has underlined his iimpact on the field. Indeed, Rodrygo has averaged two key passes and an impressive 2.6 successful dribbles per 90 minutes in the 2023/24 La Liga campaign. 

In Carlo Ancelotti's 4-2-2-2 system, Rodrygo has flourished. Often partnering with Joselu in leading the attacking line he excels at penetrating the opposition's defence, frequently creating goalscoring opportunities or finding the back of the net himself. 

Rodrygo's offensive proficiency extends beyond scoring, evident in his average of four shots per 90 minutes. This statistic highlights his adeptness at finding space and decisively firing off efforts. Impressively, his shot-creating actions, standing at 4.62, place him in the 96th percentile among players in Europe's top five leagues. He has accrued a non-penalty expected goals (xG) of 0.48 per 90 minutes, highlighting how well he’s been able find chances for himself. 

Furthermore, Rodrygo contributes defensively by engaging in the modern game's demand for attackers and strikers to try and force turnovers in the final third. His 0.3 interceptions per 90 demonstrates a well-rounded skill set that complements his offensive capabilities. In essence, Rodrygo emerges as a multifaceted player who not only contributes significantly to his team's attacking prowess but also plays a pivotal role in defensive transitions, making him, as of this season, an elite forward.  

Rodrygo has become one of Real Madrid’s most indispensable players, contributing to unlocking defences, creating goalscoring opportunities, and now finding goals. Of course, there are areas he must improve upon, such as decision-making, but everything points to a bright future for the youngster at the Santiago Bernabeu. It could argued that the furore around Bellingham right now has overshadowed the brilliant form that Rodrygo is in today, and just what he can provide in the future.

This article was provided by FootballTransfers