Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been awarded the Ballon d’Or after a stellar season that saw him pick up silverware with both club and country.
Rodri was handed the award at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, organised by the French magazine France Football in collaboration with UEFA.
With no social media presence, Rodri recognizes that he remains a bit of an enigma to many: I understand that because I have no social media, people don’t know me much. I’m just a normal guy. I enjoy the sport, I enjoy my profession, and I try to be a good person. I’m a very calm person.
At 28, Rodri claimed his fourth consecutive Premier League title with Manchester City in May, as Pep Guardiola’s side won their final nine games to outlast Arsenal. This achievement marked Rodri as the first Premier League player since Cristiano Ronaldo (2008) to win the Ballon d’Or, following Ronaldo’s initial stint at Manchester United.
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Rodri’s toughest competition came from Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, who did not attend the ceremony after learning he wouldn’t win. Jude Bellingham placed third. Vinícius, a strong contender at 24, had led Real Madrid‘to a LaLiga and Champions League double the previous season, but neither he nor any of Madrid’s eight nominees attended the event. However, Real Madrid still received honours, with the team named Men’s Team of the Year and Carlo Ancelotti awarded Coach of the Year.
Vinícius posted defiantly on X in Portuguese, “I’ll do it 10x if needed. They are not ready. Teammate Eduardo Camavinga expressed his views on the outcome, calling it “football politics” and added a message to Vinícius: My brother, you are the best player in the world and no award can say otherwise. Love you my bro, along with a celebratory photo.
The Ballon d’Or is awarded through a vote by journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries. Rodri’s impressive year included Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, where he started in all but one game and earned the Player of the Tournament honor. Additionally, he set a record by going unbeaten for 74 games across club and country from March 2023 to May 2024, with the streak ending in Manchester FA Cup final loss to Manchester United.
Rodri becomes only the second Spanish-born male player to win the Ballon d’Or, following Barcelona’s Luis Suárez in 1960. Spanish women have won the past four Ballon d’Or Féminin awards: Alexia Putellas in 2021 and 2022, and Aitana Bonmatí in 2023 and 2024. In his acceptance speech, Rodri highlighted the honour as a win for Spanish football and dedicated it to the many Spanish players, especially midfielders, whose hard work often goes unrecognized.
Rodri, recovering from an ACL injury sustained during City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September, received his award on crutches. The injury, which may sideline him for the rest of the 2024-25 season, followed his statement that players might consider striking in response to an overpacked game schedule.
I’m just trying to take care of myself. Rest, enjoy free time with my family, and come back stronger, Rodri shared when asked about his recovery plans.
Other highlights from the Paris ceremony included Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal receiving the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player,Barcelona female player, Aitana Bonmatí securing her second consecutive Ballon d’Or Féminin, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé jointly winning the Gerd Müller Trophy, and Emiliano Martínez of Aston Villa and Argentina earning the Best Goalkeeper award.