Manchester City’s midfielder Rodri has claimed the 2024 Ballon d’Or, overcoming strong competition from Real Madrid stars Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Dani Carvajal. The Spanish international is the first Premier League player to win the prestigious award since Cristiano Ronaldo’s victory in 2008, marking a 16-year gap.
Rodri’s triumph caps a remarkable season in which he played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s Premier League title run and victories in the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Adding to his accolades, Rodri helped Spain secure the Euro 2024 title, solidifying his place as one of the game’s elite.
He is the first midfielder to claim the Ballon d’Or since Luka Modric in 2018. During that span, Lionel Messi has won the award three times, with Karim Benzema also earning one title. The award did not take place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which likely cost Robert Lewandowski his chance at the prize.
