Introduction
In modern football, central midfielders like Rodri and Declan Rice have become crucial to the success of elite clubs and national teams. Both are regarded among the world’s best at controlling games, breaking up attacks, and dictating tempo. This article offers a comprehensive statistical comparison of Rodri vs Declan Rice, focusing on their performances, playing styles, strengths, weaknesses, and overall impact — particularly in the Premier League and international competitions.
This comparison includes:
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Goals & assists
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Passing & creative influence
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Defensive metrics
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Advanced analytics
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Impact on teams (club & country)
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Career honours
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
All data is updated to 2026 and linked to trusted football statistics sites for easy reference.
Player Profiles
Rodri: Manchester City’s Midfield Conductor
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Full Name: Rodrigo Hernández Cascante
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Nationality: Spanish
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Position: Defensive / Central Midfielder
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Club: Manchester City
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Premier League Debut: 2019
Rodri is widely recognized for his game control, passing range, and defensive reading of the game — under manager Pep Guardiola.
Official profile: https://www.mancity.com/players/rodri
Declan Rice: West Ham’s Midfield General & Arsenal Leader
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Full Name: Declan Rice
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Nationality: English
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Position: Defensive / Central Midfielder
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Club: Arsenal FC
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Premier League Debut: 2017
Rice combines strong defensive work with progressive passing and ball progression, making him one of the most complete midfielders in the league.
Official profile: https://www.premierleague.com/players/14481/Declan-Rice/overview
Career Statistics: Rodri vs Declan Rice
| Metric | Rodri | Declan Rice |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League Appearances | 150+ | 250+ |
| Premier League Goals | 14+ | 25+ |
| Premier League Assists | 12+ | 18+ |
| Minutes Played | 12,000+ | 22,000+ |
| Trophies (Club) | 10+ | 1+ |
Stats approximate; updated through 2025-26 season.
Data sources:
https://www.transfermarkt.com/rodri/profil/spieler/370912
https://www.transfermarkt.com/declan-rice/profil/spieler/290496
Overview Observations
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Rice has played significantly more Premier League games due to earlier debut and longer top-flight presence.
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Rodri’s goal and assist output is slightly lower, reflecting his deeper playmaking and defensive role.
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Rice shows higher overall involvement in transitional play.
Goals, Assists & Attacking Contribution
| Attacking Stats | Rodri | Declan Rice |
|---|---|---|
| Goals per 90 | 0.08 | 0.15 |
| Assists per 90 | 0.07 | 0.10 |
| Total Goal Contributions | ~26+ | ~43+ |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 6.2 | 13.8 |
| Expected Assists (xA) | 4.8 | 9.5 |
Data from:
https://fbref.com
https://understat.com
Analysis:
Declan Rice offers more goal contributions than Rodri, often advancing into attacking phases. Rodri’s scoring is more limited by tactical role but remains effective in transitional attacks and City’s build-up play.
Passing & Creative Metrics
| Passing Metrics | Rodri | Declan Rice |
|---|---|---|
| Passes per Game | 75+ | 58+ |
| Pass Accuracy | 92% | 88% |
| Progressive Passes | 18+ | 14+ |
| Passes into Final Third | 22+ | 18+ |
| Key Passes per Game | 1.2 | 1.4 |
Sources:
https://www.whoscored.com
https://fbref.com
Rodri’s superior pass accuracy and buildup involvement stems from City’s possession-based system. Rice’s strength lies in progressive passes and key passes that drive direct forward momentum especially in counter-attacks.
Defensive Metrics Comparison
| Defensive Stats | Rodri | Declan Rice |
|---|---|---|
| Tackles per Game | 1.8 | 2.6 |
| Interceptions per Game | 1.5 | 2.2 |
| Clearances per Game | 1.2 | 2.9 |
| Blocks per Game | 0.7 | 1.6 |
| Duels Won % | 58% | 63% |
Source:
https://www.whoscored.com
Defensive Insight:
Rice demonstrates more defensive aggression and ball-winning ability, while Rodri’s positioning and interception timing often prevent opposition progression before tackles are needed.
Midfield Control & Transition
Progression & Carries
| Metric | Rodri | Declan Rice |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive Carries | 3.5 | 4.8 |
| Carries into Final Third | 1.8 | 3.0 |
| Dribbles per Game | 0.8 | 1.5 |
Sources:
https://fbref.com/stats
https://understat.com
Observation:
Rice’s forward progression and ball carrying are more pronounced, reflecting Arsenal’s transitional style and his role in advancing play from deeper positions.
Advanced Analytics: Expected Contributions
Expected Goals & Assists (xG + xA) Over Time
| Season | Rodri (xG + xA) | Rice (xG + xA) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 1.5 | 4.2 |
| 2023-24 | 2.0 | 6.8 |
| 2024-25 | 3.4 | 7.9 |
| 2025-26 | 3.6 | 9.1 |
Source:
https://understat.com
Rice’s metrics reflect steadily increasing offensive impact, while Rodri’s contributions are consistent with his deeper midfield anchoring role.
Trophies & Team Success
| Honours | Rodri | Declan Rice |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 5 | 0 |
| FA Cup | 1 | 1 |
| EFL Cup | 3 | 0 |
| UEFA Champions League | 1 | 0 |
| UEFA Super Cup | 1 | 0 |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 1 | 0 |
Rodri’s trophy cabinet benefits from City’s sustained dominance under manager Pep Guardiola. Rice’s Arsenal era is on the rise but fewer major titles so far.
Performance by Competition
Premier League
Rodri’s consistent Premier League performances are characterized by possession control and tactical discipline.
https://www.premierleague.com/stats
Rice’s Premier League impact has grown as he became Arsenal’s central figure.
https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/1/Arsenal/stats
UEFA Champions League
Rodri’s experience in elite European competition includes deep runs and City’s continental success.
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague
Rice’s Arsenal also competes regularly but has yet to achieve similar European success.
https://www.uefa.com
Tactical Roles & Playing Styles
Rodri
Rodri excels as the pivot for possession build-up, recycling possession, and controlling game tempo. His strengths include:
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Positional discipline
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Short and long-range passing
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Anticipation & interception
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Buildup orchestration
Tactics overview:
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/rodri-manchester-city-how-he-became-one-of-the-worlds-best
Declan Rice
Rice combines classic defensive midfield traits with progressive attacking instincts and ball progression. Key strengths include:
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Aggressive pressing
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Forward carries & transition play
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Strong tackling & interception
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Leadership
Style insights:
https://www.90min.com/posts/how-declan-rice-became-one-of-premier-league-best
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is statistically better overall — Rodri or Declan Rice?
Statistically, Declan Rice shows greater all-around contributions in goals, assists, defensive actions, and progression metrics, while Rodri remains elite for passing accuracy and ball circulation. See advanced metrics above.
Which player wins more tackles per game?
Rice averages more tackles per game, indicating higher aggression and ball-winning presence in midfield (https://www.whoscored.com).
Who has higher pass accuracy?
Rodri typically records a higher pass accuracy, due to City’s possession-dominated system (https://www.whoscored.com).
Who has more goal contributions in their career?
Declan Rice currently has more total goal contributions (goals + assists) in the Premier League era (https://fbref.com).
Which midfielder has won more trophies?
Rodri has won significantly more trophies, including Premier League titles and the Champions League with Manchester City (https://www.mancity.com).
Are Rodri and Rice both world-class?
Yes — both are considered world-class midfielders and among the best in their respective roles (https://www.espn.com/soccer/).
Who is more influential in international football?
Rice has become a cornerstone for the England national team, whereas Rodri’s influence for Spain is also significant (https://www.fifa.com).
Which midfielder is better at progression?
Declan Rice’s progression metrics — progressive carries and forward passes — tend to be higher than Rodri’s (https://understat.com).
Conclusion
The Rodri vs Declan Rice statistical comparison highlights two different styles of elite midfield mastery:
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Rodri — possession control, passing precision, and game tempo orchestration.
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Declan Rice — dynamic defensive presence, progressive play, and goal contributions.
Both excel at their roles and remain critical to their teams’ tactical identities. Rice offers a more aggressive, forward-driven influence, while Rodri stands out as one of the best midfield pivots in modern football.
Their contrasting strengths define their legacies and continue to shape how midfield excellence is evaluated in modern analytics and elite competition.
