Philippe Folgado // Photo credit: FRANCK FIFE / AFP
10:45 p.m., October 28, 2024modified to
The France Football 2024 Ballon d'Or therefore goes to Rodri, whose full name is Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante. A victory almost synonymous with surprise. Long considered the winner, Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid did not go to the gala after rumors about the non-victory of the Brazilian or one of their own.
The 28-year-old midfielder becomes the third Spaniard in history to win the most coveted individual trophy in world football, after Alfredo Di Stéfano (1957 and 1959) and Luis Suárez (1960), but also the first player in the championship English to obtain it since the first coronation of Cristiano Ronaldo, in 2008. The coronation of Rodri, which observers did not really see coming, nevertheless sounds like a fair reward for a player who has often been in the shadow of success of his team.
Rodri, a complete player, organizer of the game and decisive
After making his professional debut at Villareal in 2015 and after only one season with Atlético Madrid, Rodri arrived, at the age of 23, at Manchester City in 2019 for a fee of 70 million euros. The defensive midfielder is seen at this time as one of the biggest prospects in this position. Some do not hesitate to compare him to Sergio Busquets, legend of FC Barcelona and a real reference for this position.
Under the orders of Pep Guardiola, the player shows the full extent of his talent in organizing his team's play thanks to his vision, his passing quality and his ability to defend. With the Citizens, Rodri quickly becomes an indisputable starter. During his first two years at the club, he played more than 50 matches per season and was decisive in many of them, such as during his team's victory in the Carabao Cup final against Aston Villa in 2020 when he scores the winning goal.
The 2022-2023 season will be THE season of all records for Manchester City. The Citizens won a third consecutive Premier League, the FA Cup (the national cup, editor's note) and above all the first Champions League in their history. A “Big Ears Cup” won thanks to a goal from… Rodri in the final against Inter Milan. He finished the season with six goals and seven assists as well as fifth place in the Ballon d'Or rankings.
Consecration with La Roja
Last season, he was once again a key element in Manchester City's success on the national scene with a fourth consecutive English championship title, a first in the modern history of the Premier League. The Skyblues also won the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup. But he can do nothing to avoid the elimination of his club in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, during a penalty shootout against Real Madrid, future winner of the competition.
Rodri has won everything with his club in the north of England. All he needed was to shine with the Spanish selection. After a victory in the Nations League in 2023, Euro 2024, in Germany, would take it to another dimension. The native of Madrid was the organizer of La Roja's game which won in the final against England (2-1). Rodri appears in the standard team of the competition and is even named best player of the tournament.
This Monday evening, in Paris, the 2024 Golden Ball crowns a deserving midfielder, organizer of the game, serving the attackers who attract all the lights. A role that is generally little highlighted but which has finally obtained the recognition it deserved.
