Cristian Rodriguez
Encyclopedia
Cristian Gabriel Rodríguez Barotti (born 30 September 1985 in Juan Lacaze
) is an Uruguay
an footballer who plays for F.C. Porto in Portugal
, mainly as a left winger.
Having received the nickname Cebolla (onion) from his Peñarol
days, when it was once said he "made the opposing defence cry," he is well known for his speed and technical ability.
to study architecture
. But, at the last minute, he opted to become a professional footballer.
in the Uruguayan first division, where he helped the side to the 2003 title. After an injury ruled him out for some games in late 2004, he was spotted by television cameras jumping in the stands, alongside club supporters, but he eventually escaped a fine or suspension.
In 2005, Rodríguez was bought by French League
outfit Paris Saint-Germain FC. After appearing scarcely in his first season in Ligue 1
, he was important in helping the capital
team barely avoid relegation, notably scoring his only goal in a 4–2 home win against AS Monaco FC
.
In late August 2007, Rodríguez moved to Portugal
's S.L. Benfica in a season-long loan, together with countryman Maximiliano Pereira
, whom was bought from Defensor Sporting. After being one of the Reds most important players through 2007–08, he was bought by fellow top division side F.C. Porto in June 2008. During the two team's match in Lisbon
on 30 August 2008, he was subjected to vitriolic abuse from the stands, in a 1–1 final draw. Nonetheless, Rodríguez eventually settled at the new club, forming an attacking trio with Argentine
Lisandro López
and Brazil
ian Hulk, also scoring some goals through unsuspecting headers.
After Silvestre Varela
was bought by Porto in the 2009 off-season, Rodríguez was relegated to a substitute role, but still appeared in 32 official games in the 2010–11 season (two goals, including one in 11 contests in the club's victorious campaign in the UEFA Europa League).
debut at age 18 in a friendly against Mexico
, and went on to represent the nation in two Copa América
tournaments, scoring in the 2007 edition in a 4–1 win over Venezuela
, the host.
After assaulting Argentina
's Gabriel Heinze
during the 2010 FIFA World Cup
qualifying stage
(0–1 home loss), he received a four-match ban, and national team coach Oscar Tabárez
opted to not select him for the final stages in South Africa
.
| 1. || 9 October 2005 || Estadio Monumental Antonio V. Liberti
, Buenos Aires
, Argentina || || 4–1 || 4–2 || 2006 World Cup qualification
|- bgcolor=#DFE7FF
| 2. || 7 July 2007 || Estadio Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo
, San Cristobal
, Venezuela || || 1–3 || 1–4 || 2007 Copa América
|- bgcolor=#DFE7FF
| 3. || 25 May 2008 || RewirpowerSTADION, Bochum
, Germany || || 2–3 || 2–3 || Friendly
|- bgcolor=#DFE7FF
| 4. || 12 October 2010 || Wuhan Sports Center Stadium, Wuhan
, China || || 0–3 || 0–4 || Friendly
|}
Juan Lacaze
Juan Lacaze, or Juan L. Lacaze, is a city located in southwestern Uruguay, within the Colonia Department. Its status was elevated to "City" category on 8 May 1953 by decree Ley No. 11.934.- Geography :...
) is an Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an footballer who plays for F.C. Porto in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, mainly as a left winger.
Having received the nickname Cebolla (onion) from his Peñarol
C.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
days, when it was once said he "made the opposing defence cry," he is well known for his speed and technical ability.
Early life
Rodríguez excelled in his studies and was offered a place at the University of the RepublicUniversity of the Republic, Uruguay
The University of the Republic is Uruguay's public university. It is the most important and country's largest university, with a student body of more than 80,000 students. It was founded on July 18, 1849 in Montevideo, where most of its buildings and facilities are still located. Its current...
to study architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. But, at the last minute, he opted to become a professional footballer.
Club career
Rodríguez started playing professionally, still a youngster, for local giants C.A. PeñarolC.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
in the Uruguayan first division, where he helped the side to the 2003 title. After an injury ruled him out for some games in late 2004, he was spotted by television cameras jumping in the stands, alongside club supporters, but he eventually escaped a fine or suspension.
In 2005, Rodríguez was bought by French League
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
outfit Paris Saint-Germain FC. After appearing scarcely in his first season in Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, he was important in helping the capital
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
team barely avoid relegation, notably scoring his only goal in a 4–2 home win against AS Monaco FC
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
.
In late August 2007, Rodríguez moved to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
's S.L. Benfica in a season-long loan, together with countryman Maximiliano Pereira
Maximiliano Pereira
Victorio Maximiliano "Maxi" Pereira Páez is an Uruguayan footballer who plays for S.L. Benfica in the Portuguese first division. Mainly a right defender, he can occasionally appear as a midfielder....
, whom was bought from Defensor Sporting. After being one of the Reds most important players through 2007–08, he was bought by fellow top division side F.C. Porto in June 2008. During the two team's match in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
on 30 August 2008, he was subjected to vitriolic abuse from the stands, in a 1–1 final draw. Nonetheless, Rodríguez eventually settled at the new club, forming an attacking trio with Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
Lisandro López
Lisandro López
Lisandro López , sometimes known as Lisandro, is an Argentine footballer who plays for Olympique Lyonnais in France.Primarily a striker, he is also capable of playing on the wings....
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian Hulk, also scoring some goals through unsuspecting headers.
After Silvestre Varela
Silvestre Varela
Silvestre Manuel Gonçalves Varela is a Portuguese footballer who plays for F.C. Porto in the Portuguese first division, as a winger.-Club career:...
was bought by Porto in the 2009 off-season, Rodríguez was relegated to a substitute role, but still appeared in 32 official games in the 2010–11 season (two goals, including one in 11 contests in the club's victorious campaign in the UEFA Europa League).
International career
Rodríguez made his Uruguayan national sideUruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
debut at age 18 in a friendly against Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
, and went on to represent the nation in two Copa América
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
tournaments, scoring in the 2007 edition in a 4–1 win over Venezuela
Venezuela national football team
The Venezuela national football team is the national football team of Venezuela and is controlled by the Federación Venezolana de Fútbol. It is nicknamed La Vinotinto , because of the traditional burgundy color of their shirts....
, the host.
After assaulting Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
's Gabriel Heinze
Gabriel Heinze
Gabriel Iván Heinze is an Argentine footballer who plays for A.S. Roma in Italy. Mainly a left back, he can also operate as a central defender....
during the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
qualifying stage
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
The South American zone of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw 10 teams competing for places in the finals which were held in South Africa. The format is identical to that used for the previous three World Cup qualification tournaments held by CONMEBOL...
(0–1 home loss), he received a four-match ban, and national team coach Oscar Tabárez
Oscar Tabárez
Óscar Wáshington Tabárez Silva, nicknamed El Maestro is a retired Uruguayan footballer who played as a defender, and the current manager of the Uruguayan national team....
opted to not select him for the final stages in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
International goals
|- bgcolor=#DFE7FF| 1. || 9 October 2005 || Estadio Monumental Antonio V. Liberti
Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti
Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, is a stadium in the Belgrano district of Buenos Aires, Argentina at the intersection of Figueroa Alcorta and Udaondo. It is the home venue of Club Atlético River Plate and is named after former club president Antonio Vespucio Liberti...
, Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina || || 4–1 || 4–2 || 2006 World Cup qualification
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for South America. 10 teams took part, all in a single group. The rules were very simple: the teams would play against each other in a home-and-away basis, with the four teams with most points qualifying to...
|- bgcolor=#DFE7FF
| 2. || 7 July 2007 || Estadio Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo
Estadio Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo
Estadio Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo is a multi-purpose stadium in San Cristóbal, Venezuela. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Deportivo Táchira Fútbol Club. The stadium holds 38,755 people...
, San Cristobal
San Cristóbal, Táchira
San Cristóbal is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Táchira. It is located in a mountainous region of Western Venezuela. The city is situated 818 m/2,625 ft above sea level in the northern Andes overlooking the Torbes River, 56 km/35 mi from the Colombian border. San...
, Venezuela || || 1–3 || 1–4 || 2007 Copa América
|- bgcolor=#DFE7FF
| 3. || 25 May 2008 || RewirpowerSTADION, Bochum
Bochum
Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...
, Germany || || 2–3 || 2–3 || Friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
|- bgcolor=#DFE7FF
| 4. || 12 October 2010 || Wuhan Sports Center Stadium, Wuhan
Wuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
, China || || 0–3 || 0–4 || Friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
|}
Club
- Peñarol:
- Uruguayan League: 2003
- Paris SG:
- French CupCoupe de FranceThe Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
: 2005–06
- French Cup
- Porto:
- UEFA Europa League: 2010–11
- Portuguese League: 2008–09, 2010–11
- Portuguese CupTaça de PortugalThe Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
: 2008–09, 2009–102009–10 Taça de PortugalThe 2009–10 Taça de Portugal was the 70th season of the Taça de Portugal. The competition began on 30 August 2009, with the first round matches, and concluded with the final, held on 16 May at the Estádio Nacional, in Oeiras, between defending champions Porto and then Liga de Honra team Chaves...
, 2010–112010–11 Taça de PortugalThe 2010–11 Taça de Portugal, also known as Taça de Portugal Millennium for sponsorship reasons, is the 71st season of the Taça de Portugal. A total of 172 clubs from all four tiers of Portuguese football took part in this tournament... - Portuguese Supercup: 20102010 Supertaça Cândido de OliveiraThe 2010 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira is the 32nd Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, an annual football match contested by the winners of the previous season's Portuguese Liga and Portuguese Cup competitions. Played at Estádio Municipal de Aveiro, Aveiro, on 7 August 2010, and contested by league...
, 20112011 Supertaça Cândido de OliveiraThe 2011 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira was the 33rd edition of the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, the annual Portuguese football season-opening match contested by the winners of the previous season's top league and cup competitions... - UEFA Super Cup: Runner-up 20112011 UEFA Super Cup-External links:*, UEFA.com...
- Portuguese League Cup: Runner-up 2009–10