The 28-year-old Rodri,a Spain and Manchester City mid-fielder who has just lost one match in last season for both club and country, received the much-coveted award after playing a key role for Spain’s victory at Euro 2024 in July. In club football, the player had triumphs also with Manchester City, in the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup.

Winning Ballon d’Or: Rodri’s Historic Achievement

Rodri’s name will go down in history books as the first Manchester City player to win the Ballon d’Or by finishing ahead of Real Madrid and Brazil winger Vinicius Jr., with midfielder Jude Bellingham of the same club finishing third-third place for an English footballer since Frank Lampard’s second place in 2005.

A Very Special Milestone For Rodri

“A very special day for me, my family and my country,” said Rodri

“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. It is for Spanish football and for the figure of the midfielder.”

“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, he was presented the prestigious 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.”

Club Of The Year: Real Madrid

Real Madrid clinched the award for the Club of the Year, and its coach Carlo Ancelotti received the honor of Men’s Coach of the Year, but all those representing him did not attend the function. This was reportedly done because it boycotted that function owing to its claims that Real Madrid had “boycott the evening after claims its star man Vinicius would lose Ballon d’Or.

What is Ballon d’Or?

The Ballon d’Or is an award given to the best player of a year by the jury of journalists chosen by FIFA from each country present in the top 100 countries in the world men’s rankings. Most notable in this year was the fact that none of its most famous winners, Lionel Messi, with eight Ballon d’Or awards, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who had claimed it five times, figured among its nominees.

Rodri’s Exceptional Contribution

Rodri finished last season’s Ballon d’Or fifth after playing a massive role in the historic Treble of 2023 that Manchester City achieved. Rodri was unstoppable for both City and Spain in Euro 2024; he was withdrawn at half-time in the final against England due to injury, but Rodri had done enough in the tournament to win the award for Player of the Tournament.

Last season, Rodri achieved a career-high with nine goals for Manchester City, scoring two crucial late goals in Premier League games and scoring a clinching blow in the title-sealing 3-1 win against West Ham.