Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has won this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time in his football career.
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Rodri is this year’s Ballon d’Or awardee
The 28-year-old received the award at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, organized by the French magazine France Football in collaboration with UEFA.
Rodri helped Spain win the EURO 2024 trophy in July.
Additionally, he won the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup with City.
He claimed the highest individual award ahead of Real Madrid and Brazil winger Vinicius Junior.
“A very special day for me, my family and my country,” said Rodri.
Rodri wins Ballon d’Or for the club and country
Rodri became the second Spanish male player to win the Ballon d’Or, since Barcelona and Inter Milan midfielder Luis Suárez claimed the award in 1960.
“Today is not a victory for me, it is for Spanish football, for so many players who have not won it and have deserved it, like [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi [Hernandez], Iker [Casillas], Sergio Busquets, so many others,” he said.
“It is for Spanish football and for the figure of the midfielder.”
He is the first player from Premier League to be crowned since Cristiano Ronaldo won in 2008 during his first stint with Manchester United.
“Today many friends have written to me and have told me that football has won, for giving visibility to so many midfielders who have a job in the shadows and today it is coming to light,” added Rodri, who was presented the award by 1995 winner George Weah.
“I’m a regular guy with values, who studies, who tries to do things right and doesn’t try to follow the stereotypes, and even so I have been able to get to the top and it is thanks to all of you.”
Meanwhile, Rodri is currently recovering from an ACL injury, which he sustained during City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on September 22.
The midfielder is ruled out for the rest of the season.
“I am just trying to take care of myself. Rest, enjoy the free time with my family and come back stronger,” he said.
Other awardees
Meanwhile, Real Madrid won the award for Club of the Year, and manager Carlo Ancelotti was named Men’s Coach of the Year.
However, no representatives from Madrid were present to accept the awards.
It was reported that the reigning Champions League winners boycotted the ceremony due to speculation that Vinicius would not win the Ballon d’Or.
The Brazilian international finished second in the Ballon d’Or race, while England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham placed third.
Elsewhere, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player.
Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe shared the Gerd Muller Trophy for the most goals in a season, while Aston Villa and Argentina’s Emiliano MartÃnez claimed his second consecutive Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper in the world.
Ballon d’Or Top 10
- Rodri (Spain and Manchester City)
- Vinicius Jr (Brazil and Real Madrid)
- Jude Bellingham (England and Real Madrid)
- Dani Carvajal (Spain and Real Madrid)
- Erling Haaland (Norway and Manchester City)
- Kylian Mbappe (France and PSG/Real Madrid)
- Lautaro Martinez (Argentina and Inter Milan)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)
- Toni Kroos (Germany and Real Madrid)
- Harry Kane (England and Bayern Munich)
