Manchester City midfielder Rodri stunned the football world by clinching the Ballon d’Or on Monday night, marking him as the first midfielder to win the prestigious award since Luka Modric in 2018.
The announcement has raised questions about the missed opportunity for Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior, who was previously considered a strong favorite for the accolade following his key contributions to Real Madrid’s successful season.
France Football’s chief editor, Vincent Garcia, provided insight into why Vinicius lost out to Rodri, suggesting that competition from his own teammates may have influenced the outcome.
“It was close. Vinícius probably suffered from the presence of Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal in the top 5,” Garcia stated after the ceremony.
The awards ceremony, held at the Theatre du Chatelet, saw Rodri receive the trophy from legendary striker George Weah, despite being supported by crutches due to a recent ACL injury.
Reflecting on his victory, Rodri said, “Today is not a victory for me, but for Spanish football, and for many players who never won it but deserved it, like Iniesta, Xavi, Casillas, and Busquets. This is for Spanish football and for the figure of the midfielder.”
Garcia also mentioned the pressure he faced from Real Madrid.
Regarding Vinicius’s chances, he remarked, “Real Madrid put huge pressure on me to know if Vini won, and maybe my silence made them think Viní lost, so they didn’t show up. I’m unpleasantly surprised, but I don’t wanna spend the night talking about RM, I want to talk about our wonderful winner, Rodri.”
With this win, Rodri becomes the first Manchester City player to be awarded the Ballon d’Or, adding to the club’s growing legacy in the football world.
