Ranking the Top 75 MLS Players of 2024: 17. Santiago Rodriguez

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Santiago Rodriguez is one of the most creative attacking midfielders in Major League Soccer. He has consistently been an underrated player across his four seasons thus far, but he broke out for a career year and showed a whole new side of his game in 2024. He has 22 goal contributions made up of 12 goals and 10 assists. New York City FC found themselves in sixth place in the Eastern Conference at the conclusion of the regular season. The attack mustered 54 goals, a modest number. It excelled defensively as a team as well. NYCFC's season certainly did not end how they hoped, though.

The Uruguayan opened his account with tallies against Portland and Toronto in back-to-back March matches. He starred during an unbeaten stretch in the early goings, scoring against Atlanta and DC United while dishing out multiple assists. He scored in three straight Leagues Cup matches in victories against FC Cincinnati, New England and Tigres. NYCFC fell in the quarterfinals of the tournament. The 25-year-old scored and assisted en route to a 3-2 win over Cincy and notched a brace in a 3-1 home win over Nashville. In the playoffs, he scored against Cincy once again, before the rival New York Red Bulls sent his side packing.

Rodriguez was the main man in most categories for NYCFC. He completed 2.71 dribbles with his tight control and touched the ball 77 times per 90. He is a gritty player in the trenches, winning 7.38 duels per game as well. He won 2.68 fouls a match, a testament to the opposing team's fear. Rodriguez is also one of the most booked attacking-minded players you will likely ever see. He was shown 12 yellow cards throughout the season and had two separate streaks of three straight games with a yellow. He committed nearly as many fouls as he won in any given match. The midfielder is set to return to the club for his fifth season and orchestrate an attack that looks fairly similar to how it did a year ago. Rodriguez comes in at No. 17.

17) SANTIAGO RODRIGUEZ | MID, NYC | PER 90 STATS (PERCENTILE)

2.71 SUCCESSFUL DRIBBLES PER 90 (92%)

76.9 TOUCHES PER 90 (94%)

2.68 FOULS WON PER 90 (91%)

7.38 DUELS WON PER 90 (90%)