MANCHESTER City and Spain midfielder Rodri has won the men’s Ballon d’Or – awarded to the best footballer of the year – for the first time.
The 28-year-old, who lost just one game last season for club and country, was awarded the prize in Paris after helping Spain win Euro 2024 in July.
He also won the Premier League, Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup with City.
Rodri is the first player in the club’s history to win the Ballon d’Or.
Real Madrid won the award for club of the year and their manager Carlo Ancelotti was the winner of the men’s coach of the year award, but there was no-one from the club present to receive the prizes.
It was reported earlier on Monday that Real Madrid were boycotting the ceremony after reports their forward Vinicius Jr would not win the Ballon d’Or.
“A very special day for me, my family and my country,” said Rodri, who appeared on stage on crutches after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in September.
The Ballon d’Or recognises the best footballer of the year and is voted for by a jury of journalists from each of the top 100 countries in the Fifa men’s world rankings.
It was the first time since 2003 that neither eight-time winner Lionel Messi, 37, or five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, have appeared on the list of nominees.
Having helped Manchester City to the Treble in 2023, Rodri finished fifth in last year’s Ballon d’Or.
His continued success with City and his role within Spain’s Euro 2024-winning side has seen him become one of the most influential players in world football.
The holding midfielder went off injured at half-time in the Euros final against England, but he had already done enough to be named player of the tournament.
Rodri scored a career-best nine goals for City last season, including two crucial late strikes in Premier League games and a goal in the title-clinching 3-1 win over West Ham.
However, he is set to miss the rest of the 2024-25 campaign after his ACL injury in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal this season.
