Cristian Gabriel Rodríguez Barrotti (; born 30 September 1985) is a Uruguayan former professional footballer who played as a winger.
Having received the nickname Cebolla (onion) from his Peñarol days, from his father, he was known for his speed and technical ability. He spent several seasons in Portugal with Benfica and Porto, and also played in France, Spain, Italy, Brazil and Argentina.
Rodríguez earned 110 caps for Uruguay, representing the country in two World Cups and four Copa América tournaments and winning the 2011 edition of the latter.
Club career Peñarol and Paris Saint-Germain
Born in Juan Lacaze, Rodríguez started playing professionally with local Peñarol in the Uruguayan Primera División, helping the side to the 2003 title aged 18. After an injury ruled him out for some games in late 2004, he was spotted by television cameras jumping in the stands alongside the supporters, but he eventually escaped a fine or suspension.
In 2005, Rodríguez was transferred to French club Paris Saint-Germain FC on a free transfer, along with Carlos Bueno. He appeared scarcely in his first season in Ligue 1, but was important in helping the team to barely avoid relegation in the second, 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 compatriot Maxi Pereira who arrived from Defensor Sporting. After being one of their most important players throughout 2007–08, he was bought by fellow Primeira Liga club FC Porto in June 2008 (but part of the transfer fee was paid to Play International B.V.). During the two teams' match in Lisbon, on 30 August 2008, he was subjected to vitriolic abuse from the stands in a 1–1 final draw. He eventually settled nonetheless, forming an attacking trio with Argentine Lisandro López and Brazilian Hulk and also scoring occasionally through headers.
Silvestre Varela was bought by Porto in the 2009 off-season, and Rodríguez was relegated to a substitute role. He still made 28 competitive appearances in the 2010–11 campaign (two goals, including one in 11 matches in a victorious run 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 a 1–0 away league loss to Benfica on 20 December 2009.
Atlético Madrid
On 28 May 2012, Rodríguez signed a four-year contract with Atlético Madrid after being released by Porto. He scored his first two goals for his new team in the Europa League group stage, against Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. (3–0 away victory) 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 joined 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 FBPA also on loan.
Rodríguez left Grêmio on 8 May 2015, after struggling with injuries and totalling less than 80 minutes of action.
Independiente On 24 July 2015, Rodríguez agreed to a two-year deal at Club Atlético Independiente as a free agent. After suffering from several injury problems, his contract was terminated on 19 December 2016.
Return to Uruguay On 3 February 2017, Rodríguez announced his return to Peñarol. He went on to win the 2017 and 2018 national championships as well as the 2018 Supercopa Uruguaya, ending his second stint in April 2021 with 126 appearances and 39 goals in all competitions.
Rodríguez joined Club Plaza Colonia de Deportes on 20 April 2021. On 17 January 2023, he announced his retirement at the age of 37.
International career
Rodríguez made his Uruguay national team debut at age 18 in a friendly against Mexico, and represented the nation in two Copa América tournaments, scoring in the 2007 edition in a 4–1 quarter-final win over Venezuela, the hosts. 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 to the final stages in South Africa.
Picked for the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, Rodríguez featured against Peru (1–1) and Mexico (1–0 victory) in the group stage. Uruguay went on to win the tournament for the 15th time in their history.
Rodríguez was included in the 2015 Copa América squad, scoring the only goal in the tournament opener against Jamaica in Antofagasta. The 32-year-old was also selected to the 2018 World Cup.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsPeñarol2002Uruguayan Primera División60———602003212—00—2122004283—91—374200500—103040Total555—10130686Paris Saint-Germain2005–06Ligue 111041—001512006–072514160003522007–080000—0000Total361826000503Benfica (loan)2007–08Primeira Liga246418000367Porto2008–09Primeira Liga29640101204572009–101844160203052010–1113120111202822011–12101102041172Total701211129210112016Atlético Madrid2012–13La Liga3318062104832013–1420170100203912014–1560212010111Total59217118240985Parma (loan)2014–15Serie A5010——60Grêmio (loan)2015Série A0000—2020Independiente2015Argentine Primera División830050—13320161000030—1302016–17900000—90Total2730080—353Peñarol2017Uruguayan Primera División2915—60—351520182010—841129152019235—81113272020261—41—302Total9831—2662212639Plaza Colonia2021Uruguayan Primera División274000000274202290211010131Total364211010405Career total410644361061122358184
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsUruguay200310200471200500200600200712120089120097020104120117020127120131632014130201561201662201770201880Total11011
Scores and results list Uruguay's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rodríguez goal. + List of international goals scored by Cristian RodríguezNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 9 October 2004 Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1–4 2–4 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification2 7 July 2007 Polideportivo Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal, Venezuela 3–1 4–1 2007 Copa América3 25 May 2008 RewirpowerSTADION, Bochum, Germany 3–2 3–2 Friendly4 12 October 2010 Wuhan Sports Center, Wuhan, China 3–0 4–0 Friendly5 10 June 2012 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay 3–2 4–2 2014 World Cup qualification6 6 February 2013 Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar 1–1 1–3 Friendly7 15 October 2013 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay 1–0 3–2 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification8 13 November 2013 Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan 4–0 5–0 2014 World Cup qualification9 13 June 2015 Estadio Regional, Antofagasta, Chile 1–0 1–0 2015 Copa América10 6 September 2016 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay 2–0 2–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification11 11 October 2016 Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia 1–1 2–2 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
Honours
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
See also List of footballers with 100 or more caps
References
External links