Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has opened up about his surprise and pride after winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or, Soccernet.football reports.
Rodri’s incredible achievement makes him the first holding midfielder to claim the prestigious honour since Lothar Matthäus in 1990.
The award was widely expected to go to Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, who had been the bookmakers’ favourite. Reflecting on the moment, Rodri admitted he felt like an outsider for the prize.
“It was so clear the other guy was winning the Ballon d’Or, so I didn’t expect much,” Rodri told FourFourTwo magazine in an exclusive interview. “But I thought, ‘It’s a vote, you never know.’ Inside of me, I thought, ‘Let’s wait.’”
Rodri’s stellar 2023-24 campaign, including a Premier League title, the Euros with Spain, and standout performances throughout the season, ultimately tipped the scales.
“A few players deserved it, but what made the difference in my case was maybe the consistency, and always being there from August to July,” he explained. “They valued my importance to my national team and my club, and also the major trophies I won.”
Rodri acknowledged the challenges faced by defensive players in the Ballon d’Or race.
“We can all agree it’s so difficult as a holding midfielder, or a full-back or centre-back – imagine as a keeper. My friends texted me and said football won. They gave value to other ways of understanding football – as a collective, as a midfielder, as the manager on the pitch.”
For Rodri, the victory is not just personal but symbolic. “It’s an honor not just for me, but for all the midfielders in history,” he added.