Manchester City midfielder Rodri has won the men’s 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
This year’s ceremony took place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, with the best men’s and women’s players over the past year being celebrated for their performances and achievements.
The 30 men’s Ballon d’Or nominees hailed from almost every corner of the world – Argentina, Turkey, Nigeria, Germany and Ukraine all had players included.
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ByBarney LaneOct 24, 2024 2 He shone for both club and country
Vinicius had a great season for Madrid last year, but faltered at the Copa America in the summer for Brazil. Though he scored twice in the group stages, he picked up a suspension that ruled him out of Brazil’s quarter-final against Uruguay and could only watch from the sidelines as his team crashed out on penalties.
In Bellingham’s case, he enjoyed an excellent domestic season and a decent Euro 2024 campaign for England in the summer, but no more than that. Yes, he scored a last-minute overhead kick to save England from exiting to Slovakia in the last 16, but you could argue he went missing on occasion, including in the final.
Rodri, on the other hand, had no such problems. For City, he was the club’s outstanding player, arguably ahead of star striker Erling Haaland, as Guardiola’s side won their fourth consecutive Premier League title. At Euro 2024, he was named as the Player of the Tournament as Spain beat the odds to win the trophy, beating Bellingham’s England in the final.
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ByStephan GeorgiouJul 16, 2024 3 He's evolved the DM role
In years gone by, the role of the holding midfielder was just that: hold. Sit deep, sweep up the opposition’s attacks before they get past the midfield, distribute, wait, and repeat.
Rodri, however, has taken the role, made it his own, and set a new benchmark for what teams should expect from their deep-lying midfielders.
Not only is he energetic and tenacious in winning the ball back, but he’s also an attacking force to be reckoned with. Last season, he contributed 9 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for City.
For reference, Arsenal’s attacking midfield talisman Martin Odegaard was involved in 18 goals, Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, whose form last season earned him a move to Bayern Munich in the summer, was involved in 15, while Rodri’s City teammate Bernardo Silva also only contributed to 15.
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ByBarney LaneOct 26, 2024 4 His peers agree
The highest kind of praise you can receive in any line of work is that from your peers – and Rodri has enjoyed plenty of that.
After City beat Luton Town in the Premier League back in December, Hatters midfielder Tom Lockyer said of Rodri: “Honestly that guy man, it’s just a joy to share the football pitch with him.
“He’s just a Rolls Royce,” Lockyer added. “He just dictates everything that Manchester City do.”
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said of Rodri after Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph: “For me, Rodri is the best player in the world, please give him the Ballon d’Or now.”
Earlier this year, during an episode of The Rest is Football podcast, hosts Micah Richards and Alan Shearer both agreed that Rodri is the world’s current best player.
“It’s not even close,” said Richards. “Whether it’s on the ball, whether it’s in the mind, whether it’s his passing ability. He comes up with important goals, as well, and assists. It’s actually incredible what he’s doing.”
“He’s the best,” said Shearer. “No doubt.”
Unfortunately for Rodri, the Ballon d’Or is no longer voted for by players, but instead a panel of 100 journalists from around the world, each of whom represents one of FIFA’s top-ranked footballing nations.
Rodri will no doubt get Spain’s vote and Vinicius should get Brazil’s, while Bellingham may yet get England’s. But let’s hope the remainder of the nations can see sense and vote for the Spaniard.
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