Jamie Carragher names 'better' player who deserved to be Euro 2024 player of the tournament ahead of Rodri
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said Spain midfielder Fabian Ruiz was better compared to Rodri and deserved to win the Player of the Tournament. His remark came after Spain won Euro 2024 after defeating England 2-1 in the final on Sunday, July 14. Rodri was named Player of the Tournament for his dominance in midfield.
Spain became the first team to lift the European Championship for a record four times. La Roja ended the tournament unbeaten. This was due to their formidable performance in midfield and defense. At the center of Spain's dominance was the midfield partnership of Ruiz and Rodri.
The 28-year-old started all but one match for the former World Cup winners. The Manchester City man scored once in the tournament, during Spain's 4-1 onslaught of Georgia in the Round of 16. He played 52 minutes throughout the tournament. He completed 411 of his 439 attempted passes, with a passing accuracy of 92.84%. Rodri was taken off in the second half of the final due to an injury.
While responding to a journalist, Carragher, despite Rodri's heroics in midfield, said that his compatriot Ruiz was the "better player" in the tournament.
Besides being directly involved in four goals (two goals and assists each) throughout the tournament, Ruiz recovered possession more times overall (46) and in the final third (14) than any other player.
Rodri has lost just once in his last 80 games for club and country
The 28-year-old lifted the Premier League title this year with Manchester City, their fourth consecutive league title and sixth in the last seven years. Furthermore, he's now just lost once in the last 80 games he has played for his club and country across all competitions.
He also won the UEFA Champions League in 2022-23 with Manchester City. The 28-year-old has won four Premier League titles, the Champions League, one FA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the Club World Cup, as well as the UEFA Nations League.
Here's what the former Atletico Madrid star said after being named the Player of the Tournament in Euro 2024 (via Sportstar):
"My God, what a day, this is surely the best day of my career. You only have to see the family we have built ... Now we are the national team that has won the most European Championships. Today we are champions of Europe and we’re not going to stop here."
Spain's Lamine Yamal, who scored the opening goal for Spain against France in the semi-final, was named the Young Player of the Tournament.