RW Rodrygo Goes
Vinícius Júnior was brilliant in 2020, but it’s important not to neglect how impressive Rodrygo Goes was in the Fall when Real Madrid were playing their best attacking football. Before Eden Hazard’s injury, Real looked unstoppable in November, playing Hazard on the left, La Liga MVP Karim Benzema centrally, and young star Rodrygo on the right.
Rodrygo’s perfect hat-trick against Galatasaray was a massive highlight this season, and he came up with another nice goal in the Champions League in a win over Club Brugge. But what was most impressive about Rodrygo was his ability to play consistently well at right wing, which isn’t his ideal position.
The 19-year-old Brazilian made it his own, though, showing the kind of passing accuracy you rarely see from a young wide forward. Rodrygo completed 87.9 percent of his passes, just 0.1 percent behind the more experienced Isco, who also spent more time in a midfield role.
Rodrygo is a complete wide forward. He defends, he has great skill on the ball, his technical quality is excellent, his tactical intelligence is sensational for a young player, and his passing, as shown above, is nearly impeccable.
Against Deportivo Alavés, Rodrygo got to play at his favored position on the left and completed a season-high six dribbles with just one giveaway. It was astonishing watching how consistently he got past defenders without giving up possession. Rodrygo is on the path to becoming a special player for Real Madrid; there isn’t a young player who has a brighter future, I dare say.