Rodri admits Ballon d’Or could be dream after Prem title and Euro 2024 glory
Manchester City star Rodri admits he would love to change the status quo and become just the second midfielder to win the Ballon d’Or this century.
Rodri has been shortlisted for the prestigious individual award following a superb couple of seasons for club and country. He helped Manchester City win the Champions League in 2023 after scoring the winning goal to beat Inter Milan.
Rodri also had a huge role in City winning a record fourth straight league title, before driving Spain to Euro 2024 glory this summer.
READ MORE: Man City boss Pep Guardiola fires warning to Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid
READ MORE: Man City star Rodri warns players could go on STRIKE over burnout fears
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have won 13 of the last 15 Ballon d’Or’s awarded.
While Real Madrid star Luka Modric is the only midfielder to win it since Zinedine Zidane back in 1998.
But Rodri reckons landing the ultimate individual prize would prove that defensive midfielders like him can be appreciated just as much as forwards are.
Who should win this year’s Ballon d’Or? Let us know in the comments section below
(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
He said: “I’m very, very happy for everything that happened to me in the last years.
“Winning what Manchester City won, and winning the Euros with my country, is just a dream. It’s a consequence of the hard work, consistency and never giving up.
“I really feel right now that people are recognising my work and trying to push me to win the Ballon d’Or. It’s not something I think about, to be honest.
(Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
“It would be a dream, of course, because I never thought I could arrive at this stage, this moment.
“I know I play a different role to most players nominated for the Ballon d’Or, but it also shows that football can be beautiful in different views.
“You can be beautiful as a midfielder, or scoring goals, or being a defender.”
