Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has been crowned the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner after an outstanding year for club and country.
The 28-year-old becomes the first Premier League player to win football’s most prestigious individual award since Cristiano Ronaldo claimed the honour in 2008 during his time at Manchester United.
Softfootball understands that Rodri’s remarkable 2023/24 campaign, which saw him inspire Manchester City to a fourth consecutive Premier League title and help Spain win the UEFA Euro 2024 championship, played a decisive role in securing the coveted award.
The Spanish midfielder was also named the Best Player of Euro 2024 after delivering consistently dominant performances throughout the tournament, despite being forced off with an injury at half-time during the final against England.
Rodri attended the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on crutches after suffering an ACL injury against Arsenal in September, an injury that has ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
One of the most remarkable achievements of his campaign was an incredible 74-match unbeaten run for club and country, spanning 475 days. That streak finally ended in Manchester City’s FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United last May. His last Premier League defeat before that had come against Tottenham Hotspur in February 2023.
The award also marks a historic milestone, as Rodri becomes the first defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d’Or since the award was established in 1956. He is also the first Spanish player to lift the trophy since Luis Suárez won it in 1960.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior had been widely tipped to claim the award, but reports that the Spanish club would boycott the ceremony emerged shortly before the event, with Rodri ultimately taking home football’s biggest individual honour.
