Manchester City midfielder Rodri has claimed the Ballon d’Or following an outstanding season, winning titles with both his club and national team.
The award was presented to Rodri at a ceremony held in Paris on Monday, organized by the French publication france football in partnership with UEFA.
This is a very special day for me, my family, and my country,” said Rodri.
“I know that, because I don’t use social media, people don’t know much about me. I’m just a regular guy who loves the game, enjoys his profession, and strives to be a good person. I’m very calm by nature.”
The 28-year-old claimed his fourth consecutive Premier League title with Manchester City in May, as Pep Guardiola’s team edged out Arsenal, winning their final nine games to secure the championship.
He is the first player from the English Premier League to receive this honor since Cristiano Ronaldo’s win in 2008 during his first tenure at Manchester United.
Rodri’s strongest competition for the Ballon d’Or was Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, who opted not to travel to Paris for the ceremony after learning he wouldn’t be the winner. Jude Bellingham placed third in the voting.
Vinícius, 24, was among the top favorites for the 2024 men’s award after helping Madrid secure both LaLiga and Champions League titles last season. However, sources told ESPN on Monday that neither he nor the other Madrid nominees—eight in total across different categories—would attend the event.
Madrid was recognized earlier in the ceremony as the men’s team of the year, and Carlo Ancelotti received the coach of the year honor, but no representatives from the reigning Champions League champions were present to accept.
Rodri played a key role for Spain in their Euro 2024 victory, starting every match except the third group stage game against Albania, and earned the tournament’s player of the tournament award.
He set a world record by going 74 games unbeaten with club and country from March 2023 to May 2024, with his only loss (outside of penalties) occurring in Manchester City’s FA Cup final against Manchester United.
Rodri is now the second Spanish-born male player to capture football’s top individual honor, the first since former Barcelona icon Luis Suárez won it in 1960.
