Ilkay Gundogan has hailed 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri as “the perfect midfielder” following his historic win.
Rodri was crowned the 68th recipient of football’s most prestigious award at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday night, making him the first player in Manchester City’s history to claim this honor. His achievement comes amid a backdrop of controversy, as Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony in protest over reports that Vinicius Junior would not be taking home the top prize.
In his acceptance speech, Rodri stated, “Football has won,” emphasizing his belief that the sport itself was the real champion of the evening. The 28-year-old has become a pivotal figure in Pep Guardiola’s formidable City squad, securing the Ballon d’Or due to his remarkable performances for both club and country during the 2023-24 season. His accolades this year include helping City clinch an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title, as well as triumphing in the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Additionally, he was named Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024.
Gundogan, who rejoined Manchester City in the summer, took to X to express his excitement for Rodri’s win, stating, “From today on, he is finally not ‘underrated’ anymore. Congratulations to my teammate Rodri on winning the Ballon d’Or! For me, this is very well deserved! I’m especially happy that someone in a defensive position is winning this title and not always just the offensive players!”
He continued, “Rodri is the perfect midfielder, and there’s no one that plays his position better than he does. Many clubs across Europe are searching for a world-class holding midfielder, but in the end, there’s only him! What a development in recent years!”
Txiki Begiristain, Manchester City’s outgoing director of football, expressed pride in Rodri’s achievement, stating, “Everyone at Manchester City will quite rightly feel very proud tonight. Rodri is our first-ever winner of this award, and he totally deserves that honor. He is a player completely without ego, whose performance level over a very long period of time has been exceptional. The consistency he has shown is the result of hard work and dedication.”
Begiristain added, “He is a perfect professional, a person who approaches every single training session with the right attitude. He wants to be the best and is prepared to make the necessary sacrifices to make that a reality. The club is also proud to have had so many other players shortlisted for this award. To have so many players in contention for this prize is further evidence we are living through an incredible period in Manchester City’s history.”
In the previous season, Rodri made 58 appearances, contributing 12 goals and 13 assists, including a career-best nine goals for Manchester City, all while losing just one match. With his Ballon d’Or victory, he becomes the first Spanish player to receive the award in over 60 years and only the third Spaniard in history to win the men’s prize, following in the footsteps of Alfredo Di Stefano (1957 and 1959) and Luis Suarez (1960).
