Rodrigo hits career-high as Leeds United record…

Rodrigo hits career-high as Leeds United record signing continues to silence critics

Rodrigo has finally risen to the challenge at Leeds United after failing to impress during his first two seasons at Elland Road.

The Spaniard became the club's record signing when he arrived from Valencia in the summer of 2020. But disappointing performances coupled with a poor goalscoring record led supporters to initially believe that he wasn't cut out for the Premier League.

But things have been very different for the forward in 2022/23. Rodrigo has been responsible for 40% of the Whites' 25 Premier League goals this term, and is finding the net at a rate never previously seen before in his career.

With that in mind, here are three key reasons why Rodrigo is enjoying the best individual season of his career...

Most clinical individual season

Rodrigo is enjoying the most clinical season in front of goal of his career with an average of 0.83 goals per 90 for the Whites so far this term.

He is still eight goals short of his career record of 19 goals in a single season in all competitions, which he recorded during his spell at Valencia in 2017-18.

However, he has crept above his best goals per 90 figure, which was 0.76 at Benfica during the 2011-12 campaign. He ended up scoring 16 times in his debut season in Lisbon, and is poised to break his record for goals in a single season if he continues his current scoring rate.

Rodrigo's highest average goals per 90 figures:

2022-23: Leeds (0.83)

2011-12: Benfica (0.76)

2013-14: Benfica (0.59)

2017-18: Valencia (0.57)

Initial Leeds' struggles are firmly behind him

When Rodrigo joined Leeds for a club-record fee of £27 million from Valencia in the summer of 2020, many supporters expected goals in plentiful supply.

But 13 goals in 62 appearances in his first two seasons was rightfully deemed somewhat of a disappointment for a player who so much was expected from.

Now, the forward is just two goals short of equalling his tally from the previous two seasons combined after just 18 games this term.

Rodrigo's record for Leeds:

2020-21: 28 appearances (seven goals)

2021-22: 34 appearances (six goals)

2022-23: 18 appearances (11 goals)

Highest scoring Spaniard

Rodrigo has scored more goals than any other Spanish footballer in the top five European leagues this season.

The 31-year-old netted his 11th goal of the season across all competitions, as Leeds came from two goals behind to force a replay in their 2-2 draw at Cardiff City on Sunday.

He has overtaken current Espanyol and former Newcastle United marksman Joselu and Real Sociedad attacking midfielder Brais Mendez, who have scored 10 goals each in all competitions.

His deficit-reducing header was also his first goal for the club in domestic cup competitions, with his previous 23 strikes all coming in the Premier League.

Highest Spanish scorers in Europe's top five leagues (2022-23):

1. Rodrigo - Leeds (11 goals)

=2. Brais Martinez - Real Sociedad (10 goals)

=2: Joselu - Espanyol (10 goals)