Rodri Says Ballon d’Or Win Was ‘Unbelievable’ as Manchester City Star Reflects on Historic 2024 Triumph

Rodri, the Manchester City and Spain midfielder, has admitted that claiming the 2024 Ballon d’Or was an outcome he never envisioned during his development as a footballer, describing the honour as something that exceeded his personal expectations.

“I wouldn’t call it a dream. I just couldn’t believe I could win,” the 29-year-old said. “Life surprises you. Basically, I don’t give it more importance than it deserves, even though it is important. It’s being named the best. This was a consequence of a job well done. I’m grateful to the people who voted for me and for the recognition. It was very special for me and my family.”

The award was the culmination of an exceptional 2023-24 campaign that saw Rodri contribute to a series of major honours at both club and international level. At Manchester City, he was a central figure as the club claimed the Premier League title, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup. He then carried that form into the summer, playing a key role in Spain’s UEFA Euro 2024 triumph.

His Ballon d’Or recognition carries added historical weight: Rodri became the first midfielder to receive the Golden Ball since Croatia’s Luka Modrić won it in 2018 — a six-year gap that underlines how rarely the award has been claimed by players in his position in the modern era.

Despite the prestige of the accolade, Rodri was measured in reflecting on its significance. The Spanish international stressed that individual recognition has never been the primary driver of his career, framing the award instead as a by-product of collective success rather than a personal milestone he had pursued.

Looking beyond his own achievements, Rodri also identified Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal as a player with the potential to one day claim football’s most prestigious individual award. Yamal, who was pivotal in Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign alongside Rodri, has continued to establish himself as one of the sport’s most prominent young talents.

Both players are expected to feature heavily as Spain prepare for their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. The defending European champions will open their Group H schedule against Cape Verde on Monday, June 14, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Spain’s remaining group stage opponents are Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, as the side look to demonstrate early tournament momentum and reinforce their standing among the competition’s favourites.