Rodrygo Goes is a player who would be the main man at most top clubs, yet at Real Madrid, he remains overshadowed. With Vinicius Jr. already an established talisman and Kylian Mbappé set to arrive, the Brazilian might find himself increasingly sidelined.
Even Jude Bellingham—Madrid’s standout performer this season—has acknowledged Rodrygo’s immense talent, stating that in terms of raw ability, he is arguably the best player at the club. That’s high praise, considering the squad includes Vinicius, a Ballon d’Or snub, a still-brilliant Luka Modric, and even Mbappé, PSG’s all-time top goalscorer.
Yet, despite his undeniable quality, Rodrygo is often played out of position under Carlo Ancelotti in a Madrid side built around other stars. Could a move away finally allow him to unlock his full potential and become the focal point he deserves to be?
According to Jude Bellingham, there’s no debate. After Real Madrid’s Champions League knockout victory over Manchester City, the England midfielder didn’t hesitate to crown Rodrygo as the squad’s most naturally gifted player.
“He’s so underrated. For me, Rodrygo is probably the most talented and gifted player in the Real Madrid squad. The things he can do with a football…” Bellingham said, before trailing off—perhaps struggling to find words to fully capture the Brazilian’s brilliance.
Yet, despite this recognition from one of football’s brightest young stars, Rodrygo continues to be overlooked, stuck in a system that doesn’t allow him to truly shine.
Rodrygo is a fascinating player—constantly deployed out of position, yet always willing to contribute for his team. Unlike the typical utility man, who’s more of a reliable workhorse, Rodrygo isn’t your James Milner type. He’s a player with genuine world-class ability and a standout talent on the field, as anyone who watches him closely can attest to.
Despite his importance to Real Madrid, especially in crucial moments, it seems almost wasteful for a player of his caliber to keep playing a supporting role, rather than being the focal point of the team. The idea of him spending his prime years doing the dirty work out of position feels like a missed opportunity.
A move away could be the best thing for Rodrygo’s career, where he could flourish as the main man at another club, utilizing his full potential and truly shining on the world stage.
Out of Position
The first question surrounding Rodrygo is one that has yet to be answered: What is his best position? The answer remains elusive because he’s never truly been given the chance to play in it. In Real Madrid’s setup, Vinicius Jr. owns the left wing role, and when he’s unavailable, Kylian Mbappé will likely float out there. This leaves little room for Rodrygo, who is often tasked with playing on the right, despite not being best suited for it.
When Rodrygo does drift to the opposite side—looking to occupy a more central role—he risks disrupting the fluidity of Madrid’s attack, crowding spaces and limiting the team’s overall movement. As a result, he stays wide on the right, a position where he typically sees less of the ball compared to Vinicius, Bellingham, or even Mbappé.
While he may not touch the ball as much, Rodrygo’s biggest impact comes in his off-the-ball work. He’s positionally intelligent and often tracks back to help his team defensively, contributing to Madrid’s ability to set up in a compact 4-4-2 shape. His defensive work makes the right flank less vulnerable, adding balance to the team’s overall setup.
Despite this, Rodrygo has long insisted that his best position is as a second striker—just behind a central forward. He got a taste of this role when he occasionally played off Karim Benzema during the French striker’s final years at Madrid. In an interview with GOAL, Rodrygo explained:
“With the 4-2-3-1, behind Benzema is the position that I like the most and everyone knows this. I always talk about it with the coach. Of course, I can play in all positions, but that’s where I feel more comfortable when it comes to playing.”
Unfortunately, Rodrygo hasn’t been given that opportunity regularly since, either at Madrid or with Brazil. Dorival Jr. used him as a No. 9 for the national team before eventually moving him to a right-wing role, similar to the one he occupies at Madrid.
Looking ahead, there’s potential for a deadly attacking trio for Brazil in the 2026 World Cup with Vinicius, Endrick, and Rodrygo. However, even in that setup, Rodrygo would likely be forced to play out of his preferred position once again.
Showing Up When It Matters Most
It’s such a waste to see Rodrygo not play in his best position, especially when he continues to show what he’s capable of when given the ball. This season alone, his numbers are impressive—10 goals and eight assists across La Liga and the Champions League, averaging a solid 0.67 goals and assists per 90 minutes. Last season, he finished with 18 goals and eight assists in all competitions, reinforcing his undeniable impact.
When watching Real Madrid, there are many standout moments—Vinicius‘s dazzling tricks and stepovers, Mbappé‘s blistering runs, Bellingham‘s creative passing and skillful turns—but Rodrygo adds his own value to the side. He’s a slick dribbler, his ball control exceptional, with the ball seemingly glued to his feet. As a classic winger, he’s capable of going both ways, and when he gets into the right areas, he delivers a final product.
He’s also an underrated finisher, with a knack for showing up when the team needs him most. His brace against Chelsea in the 2023 Champions League knockout stage was crucial, as was his outstanding performance against Bayern Munich in the 2024 semi-final. And against Manchester City in the latest knockout tie, he chipped in with a valuable assist.
Carlo Ancelotti has highlighted several matches where Rodrygo “made the difference” for Madrid, underscoring that he truly should be regarded as a key player. It’s clear that when given the chance to shine, Rodrygo can make a massive impact—but he deserves more than just sporadic moments; he deserves a role where he can consistently show his full potential.
Underappreciated and Underused
Despite his undeniable talent, Rodrygo remains underappreciated at Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti faces a tactical dilemma when it comes to fitting Vinicius, Mbappé, Rodrygo, and Bellingham into the same starting lineup. As a result, the consistent solution has been to bench Rodrygo. Even though he has been relatively injury-free this season, Rodrygo has played the eighth-most minutes in the squad. He’s started only 17 games, three fewer than Bellingham and seven fewer than Federico Valverde. More often than not, you’ll see him on the bench, while the team’s bigger names shine on the pitch.
Jude Bellingham recently acknowledged Rodrygo’s sacrifice, saying, “He’s the one who sacrifices the most. I think it’s clear that his favourite position is the left. But he does a lot for the team on the right side.”
It’s not difficult to understand why Rodrygo sometimes gets overlooked. Vinicius and Mbappé are Ballon d’Or contenders, often regarded as some of the best players in the world, and Bellingham is arguably Madrid’s most valuable player at the moment. Rodrygo, while exceptional, doesn’t quite stand out to the same extent as those three, leading to him being left out of the starting lineup by process of elimination. As a result, he is often neglected by the wider consciousness of the team’s success. It’s a tough situation for a player of his caliber, who deserves far more recognition and playing time.