Manchester City's Rodri won his first Ballon d'Or on Monday. FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images
Manchester City midfielder Rodri was awarded the Ballon d'Or on Monday at a ceremony in Paris, hosted by France Football magazine in partnership with UEFA, in recognition of his outstanding season with both club and country.
Rodri, who received the award on crutches due to an ACL injury, expressed his gratitude: "A very special day, for me, my family, and my country," he said. "I'm just a normal guy who enjoys the sport and tries to be a good person. I don’t use social media much, so people may not know me well. I am very calm."
The 28-year-old played a crucial role in Manchester City’s fourth consecutive Premier League title, as they overcame Arsenal’s challenge by winning their last nine games. He is the first Premier League player to claim the Ballon d'Or since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008 with Manchester United.
Rodri's main competition for the award was Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior, who, disappointed by the outcome, declined to attend the ceremony. Jude Bellingham placed third in the voting. Despite being a top contender, Vinícius did not participate in the event, nor did any Real Madrid representatives, even though Madrid was named the men's team of the year, and Carlo Ancelotti was recognized as coach of the year. Vinícius responded on social media, posting, “I’ll do it 10x if needed. They are not ready.” Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga criticized the results as "football politics," asserting his support for Vinícius.
The Ballon d'Or, awarded by a panel of journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries, further celebrated Rodri’s achievements with Spain. He was a key player in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, missing only one group stage game, and was named player of the tournament. Additionally, Rodri set a record of 74 games unbeaten across club and country from March 2023 to May 2024, only facing defeat in the FA Cup final against Manchester United.
Rodri's Ballon d'Or win is historic, making him the second Spanish-born player to claim the award after Barcelona’s Luis Suárez in 1960. Spain's Alfredo Di Stefano, who won in 1957 and 1959, was Argentine-born. The Ballon d'Or Féminin, meanwhile, has been awarded to Spanish players for four consecutive years, with Alexia Putellas winning in 2021 and 2022 and Aitana Bonmatí in 2023 and 2024.
Accepting the award, Rodri dedicated it to Spanish football and the midfielders who often go unrecognized, saying, "Today is not a victory for me; it’s for Spanish football and the many players who deserved it but never won, like Iniesta, Xavi, Casillas, and Busquets."
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for best under-21 player, while Aitana Bonmatí secured her second consecutive Ballon d'Or Féminin. The Gerd Müller trophy was jointly awarded to Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé for the season’s most goals, and Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez retained his title as the world's best goalkeeper following his Copa América win.
Rodri is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season due to his injury, yet he remains optimistic about recovery.
RODRI WINS BALLON D'OR AFTER PREMIER LEAGUE, EURO 2024 GLORY
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