After being awarded the prestigious Men’s Ballon d’Or, Manchester City’s midfield powerhouse Rodri expressed gratitude to his loved ones and gave fans an update on his injury status. The Spanish international entered the ceremony as the favorite, particularly after Real Madrid chose to boycott, believing their star Vinicius Jr. had been “disrespected” by not winning. The prediction proved correct, with Rodri securing the award ahead of Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal. City teammate Erling Haaland rounded out the top five.
During his acceptance speech, Rodri subtly addressed Real Madrid’s absence, saying, “Tonight, football won,” before acknowledging his personal journey and thanking those who have supported him. He shared, “I always said one of my key things is to improve every day. I used to be a traditional midfielder, but I knew I needed to be better in the final third. That’s the modern holding midfield role now—you have to play like a striker because you’re in the attack zone.”
Rodri reflected on his commitment to constant growth, saying, “I try to be the best version of myself every day, to lead and learn from the best.” Known for his composure on and off the pitch, he described himself as “a very calm person until I get upset,” joking, “I’m just a normal guy—you don’t have to be crazy. I would like to thank God.”
When host Didier Drogba asked about his recovery, Rodri reassured fans, stating, “I’m just trying to take care of myself, spend time with my family, and rest a little bit.” The midfielder also used part of his speech, spoken in Spanish, to praise Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal, confidently predicting the young player “will win one of these trophies someday.”
Concluding on a heartfelt note, Rodri shared, “I’ll celebrate with the people who love me and were with me during the tough times.” He even hinted at a humorous plan to sleep with the trophy, clearly reveling in the moment. While Rodri was City’s lone winner that night, Barcelona and Real Madrid dominated the remaining awards.
City’s outgoing director of football, Txiki Begiristain, was quick to commend Rodri’s achievement: “Everyone at Manchester City will rightly feel very proud tonight. Rodri is our first-ever winner of this award, and he totally deserves that honor. He’s a player without ego, showing exceptional performance consistently over a long period.”
Begiristain praised Rodri’s work ethic and dedication, saying, “He’s a perfect professional, someone who brings the right attitude to every training session. He wants to be the best and is willing to make the necessary sacrifices.” He also noted the club’s pride in having so many players shortlisted, emphasizing that this achievement is a testament to the remarkable era Manchester City is experiencing.
