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    Gab & Juls review of the FC 100 rankings! - Should Rodri be #1? Where's Declan Rice? 🤨 | ESPN FC
    World Cup 2026

    Gab & Juls review of the FC 100 rankings! – Should Rodri be #1? Where’s Declan Rice? 🤨 | ESPN FC



    Julien Laurens and Gabriele Marcotti talk about the ESPN FC 100 criteria and discuss what changes they would do to the list.

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    View 38 Comments

    38 Comments

    2. Real Gamer on

      This video doesn't change the following facts –
      1. Penaldo is finished
      2. Penaldo has 0 World Cup knockout goals
      3. Penaldo has 0 World Cup knockout assist
      4. Penaldo can't enter usa

    5. Real Gamer on

      I was lifting weights when suddenly my coach came in and told me to go to the bench. I stopped, and he replied “why aren’t you going to the bench?” I then I told him that I couldn’t but you should ask my finished idol pristiano Penaldo to do that since he was ghosting against Morocco.

    8. Toba Epebinuade on

      I honestly think that Jude Bellingham over Rodri slightly. At the age of 19, Jude Bellingham almost dragged Borussia Dortmund to the Bundesliga title, he was consistent for them all season putting in 8/10 performances week in week out, from midfield at a young age, he added goals from that position scoring 14 and imagine if he was 100% fit for that final game of the season match against Mainz, "would Dortmund have bottled the Bundesliga title had he been fit", his impact for Dortmund has been shown and during this same period he became a nailed-on starter for the England national team, and started all of their games at the World Cup, and he was excellent at the tournament, even if they only got to the quarterfinals, his individual performance on the biggest stage in football at that age, it's impressive. His excellent form last season earned him a big money move to Real Madrid where he'll be set to make a huge impact for the team.

      Rodri narrowly is 2nd. He helped Manchester City win the treble and after that he added another international trophy helping Spain with the Nations League and he's received Ballon Dor shouts due to his contributions for club and country last season. He was excellent for Manchester City, not just his champions league final winning goal against Inter Milan, he was solid in midfield breaking up attacks, making excellent passes, winning the ball back, and whenever he scores the goals are crucial important like the one in the champions league final. He played almost every game for Manchester City and was incredibly consistent in the DM role. He was the main reason why Kalvin Phillips hardly got a kick of the ball in his first season at Manchester City, Pep didn't fancy him and Rodri he couldn't drop him he's untouchable. He's won the big trophies and it's great to see Rodri actually getting more praise and it's warranted due to his importance at Manchester City and his consistent performances for them.

    12. chiranjeev singh on

      Lol you really can’t make up how the goal posts get moved while rating City players. Never heard “oh this player is good only because he plays for a good team” when we discuss players from other top teams. Dumb and dumber should try saying that about Mbappe for France or Modric for RM.

      Doesn’t even make sense. Maybe Gab should look up how KDB did at Wolfsburg.

    13. Urico Armagedon on

      He's a young sturdy player with great football iq because of his unity with other players and manager he plays for, he plays for a team that is ready to play for each other. Simple😏

    15. Stephen McCulloch on

      If he is, how come no 1 was talking about him till city won the treble, as 4 GAB, never has someone been named appropriately, gab by name gab by nature

    16. Witty Citzen on

      Can anyone pick jube to be his cdm and leave rodri i doubt tt. Jube is more of box to box while rodri is pure cdm. Talking of surrounding players is out of this world

    17. Solo on

      Haaland or Messi will win the Ballon Dor, but it should be Rodri
      His level is incredible and his consistency is outrageous. When City were going through that rough patch Rodri was the 1 player still performing.

    18. Fikile Mkhize on

      For me, Casemiro is not even the best DM in Brazil over the past 10 years, Fernandinho is better.

      Rice also has the potential to be better than Rodri cos he is more athletic

    22. Knothyself Knotruth on

      Lol Rodri isolated gets exposed often. In a stacked midfield at city even an extra wit a CB stones dropping in making 4 mids it's extremely easy for Rodri. Wat does he even have to do at city!? Bellingham clear

    23. The Mad Hatter on

      I respect people’s opinions as long as they’re well thought out and can defend/substantiate their claims. Can anyone please explain how Jude was picked as a better CDM than Rodri? Yes Jude has tremendous potential, but this list isn’t based on potential it’s based on what the player has shown this year. Looking fwd to replies…

    29. Don Andres on

      ESPN FC are a useless organization and shouldn't be taken seriously. No serious football organization ranks Bellingham over Rodri. Bellingham wasn't even a better player than Stones in midfield last season.
      This Rodri disrespect is insane!

    33. Darls10 on

      Does Jude play for Stuttgart? That is stupid reasoning Gab to knock city players. We are not the only good team in the world just the best

    34. Isheanopa Zuze on

      this gab guy doesn't know what he is talking about🤦🏽‍♂️… If he continues to analyze football like this he might lose his credibility

    35. I D on

      Rodri got robbed big time. I don’t know what criteria have they used, but Rodri is unquestionably number one.

    38. Michael Aronski on

      Do people really enjoy Gab? I can’t place it. Respect his journalism and career as a writer and author but doesn’t translate well on tv or podcast imo. He’s not overtly entertaining, he isn’t insightful on in match analysis like other professionals, he doesn’t have the hottest takes really and has some bias based on Italian roots and background. I get it the initial hire but how they haven’t found someone to replace him I don’t understand. Im sure a nice guy, but just doesn’t have the tv wit or charisma nor the experience as a footballer for me to see him as anything less than “ well we really don’t have many American options”

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