Rodrygo: a boy born for the Champions League

Rodrygo Goes is already, inevitably, the history of Real Madrid. It was on the eve of Tuesday’s game, but the Brazilian once again confirmed the idyll with the Champions League. His club’s favorite competition, beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with the brilliance of a team with championship material.

The striker from São Paulo started to make his mark in the competition, precisely against the team blue. The English got up last year at the Bernabéu with a complicated 1-3. However, panic set in at Chamartín. The teams of Thomas Tuchel, the coach of the team last season, rang the bell and supported Courtois with three goals. With all lost, a leprechaun, a star, or some other typical definition that would qualify, appeared, Rodrygo. That night he gave his first extra life to Real Madrid. The man from São Paulo came on for Casemiro — yesterday Valverde filled the vacant position of the Manchester United player and assisted him — and two minutes later he chased Modric’s cross into the area. Benzema finished the job. In the semi-final against Manchester City, he recorded his greatest day, with two painful goals against the Mancuriano team.

Until Tuesday evening, Rodrygo did not register again in the duo in the Champions League. He did it at Stamford Bridge, from which, after gradually emptying himself with his second goal, cries of “Rodrygo, Rodrygo” could be clearly heard from the Real Madrid fans who had traveled to the English capital.

Rodrygo started at the London Stadium. This is already a significant change considering his role in the white team’s big lineups. Marc Cucurella, one of Chelsea’s new owner Todd Boehly’s million dollar signings, was shown a yellow card after bringing him down. The former Getafe player committed a foul on the dividing line. And he did it for a reason: the Real Madrid footballer was already flying towards the Kepa area. The play was a prologue to what was to come. Vinícius received in the corner of the penalty area and, instead of trying his luck, found Rodrygo unmarked. The recorder wasn’t there just to push her. He started the game himself, with a flick that left Trevoh Chalobah stranded.

His celebration is reminiscent of the great legend of Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo. “My idol came to my head and that’s how I did it”explained the Brazilian for the Movistar Champions League. Not even the competition’s all-time top scorer has Rodryg’s records. Paulista has, with his double against Chelsea, 15 goals in 37 games. To understand his marriage to the Champions League, you have to look at his league stats. Despite about a hundred games in the domestic competition, he has four goals less. “I don’t know how to explain it. It’s a very special competition for me,” said the former Santos player at the end of the game, still on the Stamford Bridge pitch.

A gift from Valverde

His second goal was easier. He only needed the intuition of Real Madrid’s great auctioneers. Valverde gave him a goal on a platter. Such was the present that he even allowed himself a few seconds with the ball at his feet, in an action that angered Kepa. The Basque goalkeeper tried to prevent the shot and put the Brazilian in the lead. He had a chance to score his first hat-trick in Europe, but he stepped in front of the Chelsea goalkeeper — who also blocked his shot — for offside.

The Brazilian agreed with Ancelotti, who decided on him after his performance was decisive at Nuevo Mirandilla. Rodrygo turned in a great night again, as he did this season in the Copa del Rey against Atlético with the pennant goal.

Even Valverde was surprised when he received the award for the best player. The award had an owner, and that was none other than a player in love with the Champions League.