Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder, has received the Ballon d’Or after an outstanding season filled with achievements for both club and country. He was honored during a ceremony in Paris on Monday, hosted by the French magazine France Football in partnership with UEFA.
Rodri expressed his gratitude, stating, “A very special day, for me, my family, and my country.” He acknowledged his low profile due to his lack of social media presence, describing himself as a common individual who enjoys his profession and strives to be a good person.
At 28, Rodri secured his fourth consecutive Premier League title with City, contributing to a strong finish that helped the team fend off challenges, including a late push from Arsenal. His Ballon d’Or win marks a notable moment in English football, as he is the first player from the Premier League to win the accolade since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008.
The fiercest competition Rodri faced for the Ballon d’Or came from Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid, who did not attend the ceremony after learning he would not win. Jude Bellingham ranked third in the voting. Vinícius, who had a stellar season with Madrid, was expected to be a frontrunner for the award but opted out of the event along with other Madrid nominees.
Real Madrid was recognized earlier in the evening for winning the men’s team of the year, and their coach Carlo Ancelotti received the coach of the year award, although no representatives from the club accepted the accolades.
Rodri played a vital role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, starting in every match except the third group stage game. His impressive performance during the season included a world-record unbeaten streak of 74 games from March 2023 to May 2024, with his only defeat coming in the FA Cup final against Manchester United.
With this recognition, Rodri becomes the second male player from Spain to win this prestigious award, joining Luis Suárez, who last received it in 1960. While Alfredo Di Stefano, born in Argentina, won it twice, he is categorized separately.
Rodri used the platform to highlight the collective effort in Spanish football, honoring past players who also deserved recognition. He dedicated the award to the midfield role, emphasizing the often-overlooked contributions of his position.
Unfortunately, Rodri is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the 2024-25 season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained during a recent match. He collected the Ballon d’Or on crutches and expressed his commitment to recovery.
The ceremony also featured notable winners, including Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who received the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player, and Aitana Bonmatí, who claimed her second consecutive Ballon d’Or Féminin. Additionally, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé shared the Gerd Müller award for the most goals, while Emiliano Martínez was recognized as the best goalkeeper in the world following Argentina’s Copa América win.