“I think Rodri is undoubtedly the best player in the world, but he doesn't have the marketing campaign that other footballers have behind them. He should have already won the Ballon d'Or when he won the Champions League, scoring the goal in the final. We should value what we already have at home and give credit to footballers who do extraordinary things. »
These words from Dani Vivian, defender of Roja during Euro 2024 will therefore have been premonitory. Faced with the “bling-bling” Vinicius Jr, the 68th edition of the Ballon d’Or crowned the discreet but indispensable Rodri. At 28, the native of Madrid succeeds Lionel Messi, record holder of the distinction (8 trophies). A title which rewards a player who will have already won almost everything with the Spanish selection (Euro 2024, Nations League 2023) and with Manchester City (Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Cup of the club world). Here are three things to know about the 2024 Ballon d'or.
Failed because of his physique
History will record that Atlético de Madrid missed out on a Golden Ball for the first time. Indeed, Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, known as Rodri, is initially a pure product of the training of Colchoneros. But in 2013, the future boss of the Roja was rejected from the Atlético training center due to doubts surrounding his physical development. Ironically, a year and a half later, Rodri established himself in Villarreal's youth teams with a height of 1.90 m and a huge future ahead of him. That same year, he was even promoted to the reserve team and then trained with the first team before making his professional debut on February 7, 2015 against Espanyol Barcelona in La Liga.
In 2018, he will return to Atlético de Madrid for an amount of 20 million euros. Hired for five seasons, Rodri will ultimately only stay one year in the Madrid club to join Pep Guardiola and Manchester City for 70 million euros, the amount of his release clause.
Already crowned Golden Ball
This Monday, Rodri won the third Golden Ball in history for a Spanish player after Alfredo Di Stefano (1957, 1959) and Luis Suarez (1960). But this is not his first Golden Ball since the Manchester City player has already won the Adidas Golden Ball of the 2023 Club World Cup. An award that makes him a real strongman in continental and international competitions. Rodri has already achieved three doubles with a Champions League with City in 2023 and the title of best player in the competition. He then repeated this feat the same year during the Nations League won against Croatia. In 2024, the midfielder arrived in Manchester on July 3, 2019 and achieved the same performance during the Club World Cup.
READ ALSO. Golden Ball. Euro, Premier League, position: look back at Rodri's incredible season
A qualified “computer”
During Euro 2024 won against England, the Spanish coach, Luis de la Fuente did not hesitate to describe his indisputable holder (57 caps – 4 goals): “Rodri, it's a perfect computer, flawless “. Also considered the “best midfielder in the world” according to his coach at City, Pep Guardiola, the native of Madrid, in addition to being an intelligent player on the pitch, is also intelligent off the field.
Passionate about the world of economics since he was little, he studied business administration and management at the University of Castellón when he arrived in Villarreal. A course from which he graduated after completing his studies remotely after signing for Manchester City. “It was the best time of my lifehe told Fifa in November 2023. I had the opportunity to study, go out… My teammates trained and then went back to their apartment. I would train, then go to class, then return to the student residence, where I would meet people from all over Spain. I was 19 when I played my first La Liga match and I was at university and people were saying to me: “Is he the same guy?” ! » I really enjoyed these four years. I was busy with other things besides football and I think that was good for my mental health. »
This Ballon d'Or award therefore crowns a player with a football IQ well above average who will have won his fourth consecutive English championship title and a European championship with his selection, all without a marketing campaign.
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