Quick Facts
Biography
Cristian Gabriel Rodríguez Barotti (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkɾistjan roˈðɾiɣes]; born 30 September 1985) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Peñarol.
Having received the nickname Cebolla (onion) from his Peñarol days, from his father, and also because he was so good that he made rival players cry, he is well known for his speed and technical ability. He also played several seasons in Portugal, with Benfica and Porto.
Rodríguez earned more than 90 caps for Uruguay, representing the country at the 2014 World Cup and four Copa América tournaments, winning the 2011 edition of the latter.
Club career
Peñarol / Paris Saint-Germain
Born in Juan Lacaze, Rodríguez started playing professionally, still a youngster, for local C.A. Peñarol 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 transferred to French club Paris Saint-Germain F.C. on a free transfer, along with Carlos Bueno. After appearing scarcely in his first season in Ligue 1, he was important in helping the capital team barely avoid relegation, scoring his only goal in a 4–2 home win against AS Monaco FC.
Porto
In late August 2007, Rodríguez moved to Portugal's S.L. Benfica in a season-long loan, together with countryman Maxi Pereira, who was bought from Defensor Sporting. After being one of their most important players through 2007–08, he was bought by fellow Primeira Liga side FC Porto in June 2008(but part of the transfer fee was paid to Play International B.V.). 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 he eventually settled at the new club, forming an attacking trio with Argentine Lisandro López and Brazilian 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 matches in the club's victorious campaign in the UEFA Europa League).
On 17 February 2014, Rodríguez was condemned to pay a €45,000 fine for assaulting two stewards at the Estádio da Luz, following a tunnel brawl during the 0–1 away league loss against Benfica on 20 December 2009.
Atlético Madrid
On 28 May 2012, Rodríguez signed for Atlético Madrid for four seasons after being released by Porto. He scored his first two goals for his new club in the Europa League group stage, against Hapoel Tel Aviv FC (3–0 away win) and FC Viktoria Plzeň (home); in the latter he netted the game's only goal through a thunderous left-foot shot in the 93rd minute.
On 20 January 2015, Rodríguez moved to Parma F.C. until the end of the season. Less than two months later, however, due to the Italian club's precarious financial situation, he joined Brazil's Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense also on loan.
Rodríguez left Grêmio on 8 May 2015, after struggling with injuries and acting in less than 80 minutes for the club.
Independiente
On 24 July 2015, Rodríguez signed for Club Atlético Independiente for two seasons after being released by Atlético Madrid. After suffering from several injury problems, his contract was terminated on 19 December 2016.
International career
Rodríguez made his Uruguay national team 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 quarter-final 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 coach Oscar Tabárez opted to not select him for the final stages in South Africa.
Rodríguez was included in the 2015 Copa América squad, scoring the only goal in the tournament opener against Jamaica in Antofagasta.
International goals
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 9 October 2004 | Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina |  Argentina | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2006 World Cup qualification |
| 2. | 7 July 2007 | Polideportivo Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal, Venezuela |  Venezuela | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2007 Copa América |
| 3. | 25 May 2008 | RewirpowerSTADION, Bochum, Germany |  Turkey | 2–3 | 2–3 | Friendly |
| 4. | 12 October 2010 | Wuhan Sports Center, Wuhan, China |  China PR | 0–3 | 0–4 | Friendly |
| 5. | 10 June 2012 | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay |  Peru | 3–2 | 4–2 | 2014 World Cup qualification |
| 6. | 6 February 2013 | Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar |  Spain | 1–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 7. | 15 October 2013 | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay | Argentina | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2014 World Cup qualification |
| 8. | 13 November 2013 | Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan |  Jordan | 0–4 | 0–5 | 2014 World Cup qualification |
| 9. | 13 June 2015 | Estadio Regional, Antofagasta, Chile |  Jamaica | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2015 Copa América |
| 10. | 6 September 2016 | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay |  Paraguay | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2018 World Cup qualification |
| 11. | 11 October 2016 | Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia |  Colombia | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2018 World Cup qualification |
Club statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Peñarol | 2003 | Primera División | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| 2004 | 28 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 4 | ||
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 40 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 5 | ||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2005–06 | Ligue 1 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| 2006–07 | 25 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 36 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 3 | ||
| Benfica (loan) | 2007–08 | Primeira Liga | 24 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 7 |
| Total | 24 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 7 | ||
| Porto | 2008–09 | Primeira Liga | 29 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 7 |
| 2009–10 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 5 | ||
| 2010–11 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2011–12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 2 | ||
| Total | 70 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 112 | 16 | ||
| Atlético Madrid | 2012–13 | La Liga | 33 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 3 |
| 2013–14 | 20 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 1 | ||
| 2014–15 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | ||
| Total | 59 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 98 | 5 | ||
| Parma (loan) | 2014–15 | Serie A | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Total | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Grêmio (loan) | 2015 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Independiente | 2015 | Primera División | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 234 | 25 | 34 | 5 | 70 | 5 | 14 | 1 | 353 | 36 | ||
Honours
Club
- Uruguayan Primera División: 2003
- Coupe de France: 2005–06
- UEFA Europa League: 2010–11
- Primeira Liga: 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12
- Taça de Portugal: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2009, 2010, 2011
- UEFA Super Cup: Runner-up 2011
- La Liga: 2013–14
- UEFA Super Cup: 2012
- Copa del Rey: 2012–13
- Supercopa de España: 2014; Runner-up 2013
International
- Copa América: 2011