2 weeks Ago By ESPN
midfielder has been awarded the Ballon d'Or after a stellar season that saw him pick up silverware with both club and country. Rodri was handed the award at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, organised by the French magazine France Football in collaboration with UEFA. "A very special day, for me, my family and my country," Rodri said.
"I understand that because I have no social media, people don't know me much. I am just a normal guy. I enjoy the sport, I enjoy my profession.
And I try to be a good person. I am a very calm person." The 28-year-old won his fourth straight with City in May as Pep Guardiola's side held off 's challenge, winning their last nine games to clinch the title.
He is the first player from England's top tier to be crowned since won in 2008 during his first stint with . Rodri's stiffest competition for the Ballon d'Or came from Madrid's , who after discovering that he would not take home the trophy. finished third in the voting.
Vinícius, 24, had been a leading contender to win the 2024 men's prize after leading Madrid to a LaLiga and Champions League double last season, but sources told ESPN earlier on Monday that neither he nor his fellow Madrid nominees -- eight in total across the various awards -- would attend the event. Madrid had been honoured earlier in the ceremony as the men's team of the year and Carlo Ancelotti received the coach of the year award, though no representatives of the last Champions League winners were present to accept it. Rodri was part of the team that , starting every game except the third group stage match against , and claimed the player of the tournament prize.
He went a world record 74 games unbeaten for club and country from March 2023 to May 2024, avoiding defeat (other than via penalties) until City's loss to in the . Rodri becomes the second male player born in Spain to win the sport's most prestigious individual prize, and the first since former star Luis Suárez claimed it in 1960. 's legendary striker Alfredo di Stefano won the award twice, in 1957 and 1959, though he was born in Argentina.
The last four Ballons d'Or Féminin have been won by Spanish women ( in 2021 and 2022 and in 2023 and 2024). Rodri is after sustaining an during City's with Arsenal on Sept. 22.
He collected the prize on crutches on Monday. That knee injury came just days after he had told a news conference that in response to the ever-growing number of games in the football calendar. "I am just trying to take care of myself.
Rest, enjoy the free time with my family and come back stronger," Rodri said when asked about his recovery. Earlier in Paris, 's won the over the previous season, while claimed her . and shared the Gerd Müller trophy for most goals in the season, while and stopper retained the prize for best goalkeeper in the world following his country's Copa América title.
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