Manchester City midfielder Rodri (28) has won the 2024 Ballon d'Or and was presented with the most prestigious individual award in world football by George Weah this Monday night at Paris' Theatre du Chatelet. The Spain international is the first Manchester City player to win the Ballon d'Or and the first Premier League player to win it since Cristiano Ronaldo's first accolade as a Manchester United winger, in 2008. Rodri is the first Spanish Men's Ballon d'Or in the modern era, following in the footsteps of Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano (1957, 1959) and FC Barcelona midfield maestro Luis Suarez (1960).

Rodri has been an instrumental presence for both club and country, leading Pep Guardiola's Cityzens to an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title. Last summer, Rodrigo "Rodri" Hernandez Cascante also played an integral part in Spain's triumph at the Euro 2024, despite missing the second half of the final against England through injury. Rodri was eventually named Player of the Tournament. The Atletico de Madrid youth product is currently recovering from an ACL rupture sustained during Manchester City's 2-2 home draw against Arsenal.

Rodri was primed for Ballon d'Or success after it emerged that Real Madrid learned that Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr. would not be the 2024 recipient despite a brilliant season with Los Merengues, with which he won La Liga and the Champions League. Vinicius Jr. notably scored Real Madrid's second goal against finalists Borussia Dortmund. Reportedly feeling "disrespected" by Ballon d'Or's organizers and left "furious" by Vicinius Jr's snub, Real Madrid have decided to boycott the ceremony in Paris.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval