Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has emerged as a strong contender for the 2024 Ballon d’Or after helping his club win the Premier League and leading Spain to victory at Euro 2024.
Rodri is among the front-runners for the prestigious award, alongside Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior. Both players enjoyed stellar 2023 seasons, with Vinicius playing a key role in Real Madrid’s La Liga and UEFA Champions League triumphs, while Rodri was instrumental in Manchester City’s title-winning campaign and Spain’s Euro 2024 success.
Rodri’s influence in City is undeniable, with the team suffering just one defeat in regular time since March 2023. His consistent performances have made him Pep Guardiola’s most reliable player.
In an interview with ESPN, Rodri acknowledged his competition with Vinicius saying, “People say I’m going to fight with Vinicius, who is someone I admire. I think he is a great player.
“Just being in the conversation makes me very proud of the work I’ve put in. It will depend a little bit on what people value [when they vote], and what they believe, and honestly, there are a lot of players who deserve to win it, so we will see what the decision is.
“But imagine for me, to be in the conversation that the people when I walk into the street, they say to me, ‘you’re going to win the Ballon d’Or, you deserve it’. And for me, that means I am already a winner with this.
“The people that believe that I can be the best player in the world and telling me these kinds of things, for me is incredible. I never dream about this.
Currently the Ballon d’Or is held by Messi who won the award a record eight times. As the winner will be announced in October, it remains to be seen if Rodri can follow in Messsi’s footsteps and claim the award.
See the interview below:
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