(foto: UEFA)
Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d'Or, edging out tough competition from Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappe.
At the grand Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris, Rodri, the Spanish midfield general from Manchester City, was named the best player of the year. Known for his reliability and tactical intelligence, Rodri plays a crucial role for both Pep Guardiola’s team and the Spanish national side. The 28-year-old Madrid-born midfielder has had another stellar year of accomplishments.
At the club level, Rodri contributed to Manchester City’s fourth consecutive Premier League title and a Club World Cup win. Whenever Rodri was available, City remained unbeaten in the Premier League. Across all competitions, he recorded nine goals and 14 assists, further establishing his importance since joining City from Atletico Madrid in 2019.
Other top contenders for the award included Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), and Kylian Mbappe (PSG/Real Madrid). Despite strong expectations for Vinicius, who scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists for Real Madrid last season, voters were ultimately more swayed by Rodri’s title-winning achievements.