🥈 Rodri second only to Messi in incredible Pep stat

OneFootball

Lewis Ambrose·10 June 2023

🥈 Rodri second only to Messi in incredible Pep stat

Lionel Messi first, Rodri second.

Not the worst name to finish runner-up to.

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The Manchester City midfielder started his 52nd game of the season as he lines up for Saturday’s Champions League final and boy did he mark it in special fashion, scoring the only goal as City won the Champions League for the first time in their history.

That is the second most games any outfield player has ever started under Pep Guardiola in a single season, per Opta, with only Lionel Messi (57 starts, 2011/12) starting more times in a single campaign under the current Man City boss.

52 - Rodri is making his 52nd start of the season for Manchester City in all competitions - across Pep Guardiola's managerial career, the only outfield player to have started more games in a single campaign under him was Lionel Messi in 2011-12 (57). Pivotal. #UCLFinal
– Saturday, 10 June 2023

Not Gerard Piqué, nor Xavi, Iniesta, Philipp Lahm, Kevin De Bruyne or anyone else. Impressive.