Lhe Ballon d’Or ceremonies have often turned into a bore in recent years, as all the awards were known in advance. The 2024 edition will undoubtedly remain one of the most memorable with the reshuffled cards. The organizer France Footballwith its jury, had decided to maintain suspense by announcing their victory to the winner live, and not by a telephone call in advance as was customary. Designated as the winner for several weeks, Vinicius Junior was shocked to discover that Rodri had obtained the Ballon d’Or for the 2023-2024 season.
Winner of the Euro with Spain and the Premier League with Manchester City, Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante known as Rodri has become an absolute reference in his position. An elegant player on the pitch, the Spaniard has for several years demonstrated a complete technical range and even an ability to be decisive, like his goal in the Champions League final against Inter in May 2023. He succeeds Lionel Messi.
In Pep Guardiola’s machine, Rodri has found his place since his arrival from Atlético de Madrid in 2019. Very quickly indispensable, Rodri adapts to the intensity of the Premier League and becomes a main player in the titles won by the Citizens: four championships, four national cups, a Champions League, a European Super Cup and a Club World Cup.
At the same time, in selection, Rodri participated in the recovery of Spain. On the decline at the end of the 2010s, La Roja regained color with a semi-final at the Euro in 2021 where the City midfielder proved decisive. The titles in the League of Nations two years later and especially the Euro last summer put Spain back on the map of world football, with Rodri as a major protagonist.
A distribution of votes fatal to Vinicius
Pep Guardiola insisted at a press conference on the indispensable aspect of his player. “Rodri is irreplaceable. You can have all the money you want to buy a player, there is no Rodri on the market. There are no words to describe his impact, with or without the ball, and how intelligent he is with the ball. He attacks space when he sees it. »
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Answer
Seriously injured at the start of the season with a ruptured cruciate ligament, the 28-year-old midfielder finally beat a Vinicius who was not unworthy. Winner with Real Madrid of La Liga and the Champions League, elected best player in the competition, the Brazilian undoubtedly pays for sharing the votes with his Madrid teammates, Jude Bellingham in the lead. Vinicius may also regret his lack of impact with Brazil and an elimination in the quarter-finals of the last Copa America.
Disconcerted by the events, Real Madrid decided not to go to the ceremony despite nominations in several categories. The first Spanish player to win the supreme individual football award since Luis Suarez in 1960, Rodri leaves with the precious distinction.
