Manchester City and Spains midfield maestro Rodri became a Ballon d’Or trophy after an almost perfect season in 2023 – 2024.
The holding midfielder was awarded the trophy in Paris after helping his country Spain to the Euros and also winning another Premier League title with Man City.
Apart from those coveted trophies, in the last one year, Rodri also won the Eufa Super Cup and Club World Cup with his parent club.
Rodri became the first Manchester City player to ever win the award and showed up to the stage on crutches as he’s currently out with a long-term injury.
The 28-year-old won the award ahead of Real Madrid trio of Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal who followed behind respectively.
Real Madrid No Show
The move saw Real Madrid boycott the event, as no player, manager nor official showed up to the award in support of Vinicius, whom they believed should have won.
Real Madrid won the award for best male football club in the world, but no one was there to accept the trophy on stage.
In the last 18 months, Rodri has only lost one match while playing for Manchester City and that is their defeat to bitter rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
Rodri, it’s all yours! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/OeyieiRQYe
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
It was the first time since 2003 that Lionel Messi and, an eight time winner and Cristiano Ronaldo, a five time winner, did not appear in the list of nominees.
The award recognises the best footballer of the year and a jury of journalist from each of the top 100 countries ranked by FIFA are given the task to pick the winner.
Barcelona’s Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati won the women’s award for a second time.
