1. Early life and career beginnings
Cristian Gabriel Rodríguez Barrotti was born on September 30, 1985, in Juan Lacaze, Colonia Department, Uruguay. While he also pursued academic studies in architecture at the University of the Republic in Uruguay, he ultimately decided to dedicate himself to a professional football career. He began his professional journey at a young age with the local club Peñarol in the Uruguayan Primera División in 2002. He quickly made an impact, contributing to the team's victory in the 2003 league title.
In late 2004, Rodríguez was sidelined due to an injury. During this period, he garnered media attention when he was seen enthusiastically cheering and jumping in the stands alongside the club's supporters on television cameras. Despite the potential for a fine or suspension for this display, he ultimately avoided any disciplinary action. It was during his early days at Peñarol that he received the lasting nickname Cebolla (CebollaonionSpanish) from his father, a moniker that would accompany him throughout his professional career.
2. Club career
Cristian Rodríguez's professional club career spanned over two decades, seeing him play for teams across South America and Europe, including Portugal, France, Spain, Italy, and Brazil.
2.1. Peñarol and Paris Saint-Germain
Rodríguez began his professional career with Peñarol in 2002, where he played until 2005, contributing to their 2003 Uruguayan Primera División title. In 2005, he transferred to French club Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, alongside compatriot Carlos Bueno. During his initial season in Ligue 1 (2005-06), he made limited appearances. However, he became a more integral player in the following season, when Paris Saint-Germain narrowly avoided relegation. His sole goal during his time at the club came in a 4-2 home victory against Monaco on February 10, 2007.
2.2. S.L. Benfica and F.C. Porto
In July 2007, Rodríguez moved to Portugal, joining S.L. Benfica on a season-long loan. He arrived simultaneously with fellow Uruguayan player Maxi Pereira. Rodríguez quickly established himself as a crucial player for Benfica during the 2007-08 season, making 24 appearances and scoring 6 goals. His strong performance led to his transfer to rival Primeira Liga club Porto in June 2008. A portion of his transfer fee was paid to Play International B.V. His move to Porto sparked controversy among Benfica supporters, and he was subjected to hostile abuse from the stands during a match between the two teams in Lisbon on August 30, 2008, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Despite the initial animosity, Rodríguez settled into his new club and formed a formidable attacking trio with Argentine forward Lisandro López and Brazilian player Hulk. He also became known for scoring occasional goals through unsuspecting headers. In the 2009 off-season, the arrival of Silvestre Varela saw Rodríguez's role reduced to that of a substitute. Nevertheless, he still made 32 competitive appearances during the 2010-11 campaign, scoring two goals. Notably, one of these goals contributed to Porto's victorious run in the 2010-11 UEFA Europa League, where he played in 11 matches. On February 17, 2014, Rodríguez was ordered to pay a fine of 45.00 K EUR for assaulting two stewards at the Estádio da Luz during a tunnel brawl that occurred after a 1-0 away league loss against Benfica on December 20, 2009.
2.3. Atlético Madrid and loan spells
On May 28, 2012, after being released by Porto, Rodríguez signed a four-year contract with Spanish club Atlético Madrid. In his first season (2012-13), although primarily coming on as a substitute, he played in 33 league matches, contributing to Atlético Madrid's qualification for the UEFA Champions League. He scored his first two goals for the team in the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League group stage: one in a 3-0 away victory against Hapoel Tel Aviv and another in a home match against FC Viktoria Plzeň, where he netted the game's only goal with a powerful left-foot shot in the 93rd minute. However, during the 2013-14 season, his playing time diminished further, with only two league starts.
Seeking more playing opportunities, Rodríguez joined Italian club Parma on loan on January 20, 2015, for the remainder of the season. His tenure at Parma was brief due to the club's precarious financial situation, which was on the verge of bankruptcy. Less than two months later, on March 9, he terminated his contract with Parma and moved to Brazilian club Grêmio on a half-year loan. His time at Grêmio was also challenging, as he struggled with injuries and played for less than 80 minutes across all appearances. He departed Grêmio on May 8, 2015, confirming his exit and expressing respect for the club and its supporters.
2.4. Independiente
On July 24, 2015, Rodríguez signed a two-year deal with Argentine club Independiente as a free agent. During his time at Independiente, he continued to face persistent injury problems. Consequently, his contract with the club was terminated on December 19, 2016.
2.5. Return to Uruguay and retirement
On February 3, 2017, Cristian Rodríguez announced his return to his boyhood club, Peñarol, signing a two-year contract, marking his first return after a 12-year absence. His second stint at Peñarol was highly successful, as he played a key role in winning the 2017 and 2018 national championships, as well as the 2018 Supercopa Uruguaya. He concluded his second period with Peñarol in April 2021, having made 126 appearances and scoring 39 goals across all competitions.
Following his departure from Peñarol, Rodríguez joined Plaza Colonia on April 20, 2021. After contributing to Plaza Colonia, Cristian Rodríguez officially announced his retirement from professional football on January 17, 2023, at the age of 37.
3. International career
Cristian Rodríguez made his debut for the Uruguay national team at the age of 18 in 2003, in a friendly match against Mexico. He went on to earn 110 caps for his country over 15 years, becoming a consistent presence in the national squad.
He participated in four Copa América tournaments. In the 2007 Copa América, he scored a goal in Uruguay's 4-1 quarter-final victory over host nation Venezuela. He was a key member of the Uruguay squad that famously won the 2011 Copa América title, marking the country's 15th triumph in the competition. He was also included in the squad for the 2015 Copa América, where he scored the only goal in Uruguay's opening match against Jamaica in Antofagasta.
Rodríguez's international career was not without disciplinary incidents. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying stage, in a 0-1 home loss against Argentina on October 14, 2009, he assaulted Gabriel Heinze, resulting in a red card and a subsequent four-match ban. Consequently, national team coach Óscar Tabárez decided not to include him in the final squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Despite this setback, Rodríguez continued to represent his country, being selected for both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
4. Career statistics
Cristian Rodríguez's career statistics encompass his performances for various clubs and the Uruguay national team.
4.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Peñarol | 2002 | Uruguayan Primera División | 6 | 0 | - | - | - | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2003 | 21 | 2 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 21 | 2 | ||||
| 2004 | 28 | 3 | - | 9 | 1 | - | 37 | 4 | ||||
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||
| Total | 55 | 5 | - | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 68 | 6 | |||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2005-06 | Ligue 1 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 1 | - | 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 | |||
| 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 |
| Porto | 2008-09 | Primeira Liga | 29 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 7 |
| 2009-10 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 5 | ||
| 2010-11 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2011-12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 2 | ||
| Total | 70 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 29 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 120 | 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 | 4 | 0 | 98 | 5 | ||
| Parma (loan) | 2014-15 | Serie A | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 0 | ||
| Grêmio (loan) | 2015 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Independiente | 2015 | Argentine Primera División | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | 13 | 3 | |
| 2016 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 13 | 0 | |||
| 2016-17 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 9 | 0 | |||
| Total | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | - | 35 | 3 | |||
| Peñarol | 2017 | Uruguayan Primera División | 29 | 15 | - | 6 | 0 | - | 35 | 15 | ||
| 2018 | 20 | 10 | - | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 15 | |||
| 2019 | 23 | 5 | - | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 7 | |||
| 2020 | 26 | 1 | - | 4 | 1 | - | 30 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 98 | 31 | - | 26 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 126 | 39 | |||
| Plaza Colonia | 2021 | Uruguayan Primera División | 27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 4 |
| 2022 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 1 | ||
| Total | 36 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 5 | ||
| Career total | 410 | 64 | 43 | 6 | 106 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 581 | 84 | ||
4.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | 2003 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 16 | 3 | |
| 2014 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 110 | 11 | |
4.2.1. International goals
Scores and results list Uruguay's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rodríguez goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 9, 2004 | Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Argentina | 1-4 | 2-4 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | July 7, 2007 | Polideportivo Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal, Venezuela | Venezuela | 3-1 | 4-1 | 2007 Copa América |
| 3 | May 25, 2008 | RewirpowerSTADION, Bochum, Germany | Turkey | 3-2 | 3-2 | Friendly |
| 4 | October 12, 2010 | Wuhan Sports Center, Wuhan, China | China | 3-0 | 4-0 | Friendly |
| 5 | June 10, 2012 | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay | Peru | 3-2 | 4-2 | 2014 World Cup qualification |
| 6 | February 6, 2013 | Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar | Spain | 1-1 | 1-3 | Friendly |
| 7 | October 15, 2013 | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay | Argentina | 1-0 | 3-2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8 | November 13, 2013 | Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan | Jordan | 4-0 | 5-0 | 2014 World Cup qualification |
| 9 | June 13, 2015 | Estadio Regional, Antofagasta, Chile | Jamaica | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2015 Copa América |
| 10 | September 6, 2016 | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay | Paraguay | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11 | October 11, 2016 | Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia | Colombia | 1-1 | 2-2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
5. Honours
Cristian Rodríguez achieved significant success throughout his career, winning numerous titles with both his clubs and the national team.
- Peñarol
- Uruguayan Primera División: 2003, 2017, 2018
- Supercopa Uruguaya: 2018
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Coupe de France: 2005-06
- Porto
- Primeira Liga: 2008-09, 2010-11, 2011-12
- Taça de Portugal: 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2010
- UEFA Europa League: 2010-11
- Atlético Madrid
- La Liga: 2013-14
- Copa del Rey: 2012-13
- Supercopa de España: 2014
- UEFA Super Cup: 2012
- Uruguay
- Copa América: 2011
6. Criticism and controversies
Throughout his career, Cristian Rodríguez was involved in several notable incidents and controversies:
- In late 2004, while playing for Peñarol, he was sidelined due to an injury. Despite being unable to play, he was famously seen by television cameras enthusiastically jumping and cheering in the stands alongside club supporters. While he avoided a fine or suspension, this incident highlighted his passionate, albeit sometimes unconventional, behavior.
- On December 20, 2009, following a 1-0 away league loss against S.L. Benfica at the Estádio da Luz, Rodríguez was involved in a tunnel brawl. On February 17, 2014, he was condemned to pay a fine of 45.00 K EUR for assaulting two stewards during this altercation.
- During the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying stage, on October 14, 2009, in a home match against Argentina, Rodríguez committed a foul on Gabriel Heinze that resulted in a red card and a subsequent four-match ban. This disciplinary action ultimately led to coach Óscar Tabárez's decision not to select him for the final squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
- His loan spells, particularly with Grêmio in 2015 and Independiente between 2015 and 2016, were significantly impacted by recurring injury problems. At Grêmio, he managed to play for less than 80 minutes in total, leading to an early departure. His persistent injury struggles at Independiente also led to the termination of his contract in December 2016.