Rodri has long been considered the top holding midfielder in the league, but that may no longer be the case. The Spaniard, who has been a key part of Pep Guardiola’s setup for years, reached the height of his game last season and was recognised with a 2024 Ballon d’Or win. But his time out with an ACL injury at the start of this season opened the door for others to make their mark.