Rodrigo Hernández (28 years old) is already sterling gold. The Spanish midfielder won the most luxurious award in the world of football being the most normal guy of all, one who has no tattoos, no earrings, no social networks and classic footballer hair. He looked at the Paris sky, placed his crutches on the lectern, brought out the smile of a child who had never dreamed of achieving such (He cares more about collective titles) and raised a prize through tears that gives him a direct pass to a reduced list of footballers who have been crowned the best of the moment. And on the night of Monday, October 28, in the Teatro Chatelet He will also go down in history after becoming the second Spaniard to win this award after the one achieved by Luis Suárez in 1960. “'If we have arrived here we are not going to throw in the towel.' And from that day my mentality changed. A normal boy with values, who studies, who tries to do things well and does not pay attention to stereotypes outside of football can reach heights, thanks to everyone“, he said, visibly excited on stage, as seen in exclusive images from Movistar Plus+.
This Ballon d'Or for Rodri is the award for the perfect pivotone who is capable of getting a career out of Business Administration and Managementgive off the ball, win duels with ease, defend like a charm and, for his position, give goals and assists as if it were a playmaker. Thus, before the gala everything indicated that said recognition would be for Viniciussecond place, until everything blew up in the most unexpected way. However, There were plenty of reasons to understand the script change at the last minute. which caused the absence of the entire Real Madrid expedition. Or at least that's what Rodri signed with Manchester City and the Spanish team says. “Today many friends have written to me and told me that football has won, for giving visibility to so many midfielders that we have a job in the shadows and today it comes to light.”
EFE
The Ballon d'Or of a simple star
Last year Manchester City won a fourth consecutive Premier League titlean unprecedented milestone in 135 years of English football. Furthermore, the only two defeats of the team GuardiolIn this competition they coincided with Rodri's absence due to suspension. They won the Club World Cup and the European Super Cup. Among all the competitions Rodri scored 12 goals and distributed 15 assists from the pivot position (some unprecedented numbers for someone in his position). There are more sporting merits. The icing on his almost perfect cake came in the summer with the achievement of the Euro Cup, where he was one of the leaders of the locker room and the beacon of all his teammates.. His role was key, which allowed him to be named as Player of the Tournament. Nicknamed by his City teammates as the footballer who does not know defeatthe Madrid native played 50 games with his team and only lost one in the FA Cup final against Manchester United, the performances of the simple star have helped him win the 2024 Ballon d'Or.
“That people think that I can be the best in the world is already incredible for me. Being here is already a reward for me”the 28-year-old midfielder from the club explained on the red carpet. Manchester City. In a few years in which our country has had great soccer players, including the best generation in the history of national soccer, the one that won the European Championship, World Cup and European Championship. However, noNone of them won this recognition at a time when Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi alternated the awards.. had to come Rodri Hernandez to premiere the great work that has been carried out for some time in our lands, the best possible message for the young Spanish footballers who dream of raising it one day and who have been going strong (Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Pedri…): ““Today is not a victory for me, it is for Spanish football, so many players who have not won it and have deserved it, like Iniesta, Xavi, Iker, Busi, like so many, it is for Spanish football and for the figure of the midfielder.”he stated.
