Thierry Henry compares Rodri to Busquets, says Barcelona landed another midfielder of that caliber

Some comparisons are made lightly, others actually carry weight. When Thierry Henry brings up Sergio Busquets to describe a defensive midfielder, it's worth paying attention. That's exactly what the Frenchman did while breaking down the impact of Rodri at Barcelona, the signing who arrived carrying the label of the World Cup's best player and who is already starting to leave his mark on Hansi Flick's team.

Henry, now a CBS analyst, didn't hold back when assessing the impact Rodrigo Hernandez is having on Barcelona's midfield. And make no mistake, comparing someone to Busquets at Barcelona is no small compliment. It touches a nerve at the club.

I don't know if he's better than Busquets or not, because that's a different conversation, but I never thought I'd see another Busquets. I've seen one, I'm watching one right now. Barca has found another Busquets. Busquets never won a Ballon d'Or, but neither did Xavi or Iniesta.Thierry Henry

The Frenchman went further, explaining why, in his view, Rodri's arrival completely changes the team's identity. He pointed to Barcelona's 5-0 rout at Mestalla as an example, a match in which, according to Henry, the Catalan side barely conceded a single counterattack.

Henry's tactical read on Rodri

What struck the former striker most was the way Rodri manages space and possession without ever forcing the play. No diving in, no mistimed challenges: just control, patience and clean distribution out of the back.

There was no pressure on the ball, he controlled the inside, took the outside player with him, ran alongside his opponent the way he's supposed to. And as a defensive midfielder he recycled the ball and played it straight forward. Given how he plays and his reading of the game, it's his job to sense danger and shut the opponent down.Thierry Henry

Henry even zeroed in on one specific detail from that performance: how Rodri, pressing an opponent out wide, didn't dive into a challenge but instead pulled up a couple of yards short, read the situation, let his teammates get back into shape, and then returned to the middle to redirect the ball. For Henry, decisions like that separate a good defensive midfielder from one on another level entirely, provided, he warned, Rodri stays free of injuries.

The Ballon d'Or goes to Mbappe

That said, all this praise doesn't mean Henry will be voting for Rodri for the Ballon d'Or, which will be handed out on Monday, October 26 once the list of 30 nominees is revealed. His pick is his fellow countryman Kylian Mbappe, whom he backed up with the numbers.

I know people will tell me he hasn't won anything. But when you look at what he's achieved individually, top scorer in the Champions League, in LaLiga and at the World Cup. You also have to consider how many goals he has in World Cup and Champions League history.Thierry Henry

Henry wrapped up his analysis by acknowledging there are several strong names in the running for the award, but he made his favorite clear: "There are a lot of candidates, but I'm going with Mbappe, even though Olise is very close to him."