28-year-old Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodrigo Hernández has won the Ballon d’Or in Paris on Monday night, after playing a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory in July, and winning the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup with Manchester City.
As the first player in City’s history to claim the Ballon d’Or, Rodri secured the award ahead of Real Madrid’s Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr., while Jude Bellingham, also of Real Madrid, finished third—the highest placement for an English player since Frank Lampard’s second-place finish in 2005.
Real Madrid won the club of the year award, and manager Carlo Ancelotti received the men’s coach of the year honour; however, no representatives from the club attended to accept the accolades.
Reports indicated that Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony after learning that Vinicius would not win the Ballon d’Or.
“A very special day for me, my family and my country,” said Rodri, who appeared on stage on crutches following a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sustained in September.
“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.”
The Ballon d’Or honours the best footballer of the year and is determined by a jury of journalists from the top 100 countries in FIFA’s men’s world rankings.
This marks the first time since 2003 that neither Lionel Messi, an eight-time winner, nor Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time winner, appeared on the list of nominees.
Having contributed to Manchester City’s Treble in 2023, Rodri finished fifth in last year’s Ballon d’Or rankings. His ongoing success with City and pivotal role in Spain’s Euro 2024-winning team have established him as one of the most influential players in football today.
Although he was injured at halftime during the Euros final against England, he had already made enough of an impact to be named player of the tournament.
Rodri achieved a career-best nine goals for City last season, including two crucial late strikes in Premier League matches and a goal in the title-clinching 3-1 victory over West Ham.
“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,” Rodri noted, while accepting the award from 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.” Regarding the ACL injury that will sideline him for the season, he stated, “I am just trying to take care of myself. Rest, enjoy the free time with my family and come back stronger.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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