Rodri has been awarded the 2024 Ballon d'Or, recognizing him as the top player in men's soccer after a remarkable season where he secured the Premier League title with Manchester City and triumphed in Euro 2024 with Spain.
In the voting, Rodri outperformed Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, who finished second but did not attend the ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, along with his Real Madrid teammates. The delegation reportedly chose to skip the event after learning that Vinicius would not win the award.
Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal from Real Madrid took third and fourth places, respectively.
Rodri expressed, "A very special day for me, my family, and my country," according to BBC Sport. Notably, Lionel Messi, the previous year's winner and an eight-time recipient, was not among this year's nominees, marking the first time since 2003 that neither he nor Cristiano Ronaldo were in contention for the award. At 28, Rodri is also the first male Ballon d'Or winner under 31 since 2015.
Last year, Rodri finished fifth in the Ballon d'Or rankings after helping Manchester City achieve a historic treble. Although his individual performance in the 2023-24 season did not reach that level, he remained a critical player for Pep Guardiola's squad. He celebrated his fourth consecutive Premier League title and victories in the Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Rodri led the Premier League and Champions League in progressive passes last season and ranked high in carrying the ball upfield. His absence in four Premier League matches resulted in three losses for Manchester City. Since the 2019-20 season, the club has averaged 1.90 points per match without him and 2.37 with him.
Injuries impacted Rodri's season as he tore his ACL on September 22. He previously raised concerns about the congested European soccer schedule, suggesting players might consider a strike.
Rodri's significant achievement leading to the Ballon d'Or was his standout performance at Euro 2024, where he was named the tournament's best player. He played a pivotal role in Spain's successful campaign, where they defeated Croatia, Italy, Germany, France, and England in an unbeaten run.
Rodri noted, "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 emphasized the recognition for Spanish football and the importance of midfielders.
The comparison between Rodri and Vinicius on the international stage played a crucial role in the award outcome. Vinicius, 24, won La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid and was recognized as the top player in the latter competition. However, Brazil's performance in the World Cup qualifiers and Copa America was disappointing, with the team ranked fourth in South America after defeats in critical matches.
Rodri's Manchester City teammate Ilkay Gundogan praised him on social media, stating, "From today on he is finally not 'underrated' anymore." Gundogan further remarked, "I'm especially happy that someone in a defensive position is winning this title and not always just the offensive players! Rodri is the perfect midfielder, and there's no one that plays his position better than he does."
