Manchester City’s Rodri has been awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or at a star-studded event in Paris, outpacing Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. to claim the honour.
Rodri becomes the first midfielder to win the Ballon d’Or since Luka Modric in 2018. In the years following Modric’s victory, Lionel Messi won three of the awards, while Karim Benzema secured one.
Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski was widely expected to win the trophy in 2020, but that year’s award was cancelled.
Rodri’s achievement also marks the first time a Premier League player has won the Ballon d’Or since Cristiano Ronaldo did so in 2008 while playing for Manchester United.
Currently sidelined with an ACL injury, Rodri has been ruled out for the remainder of the season—a setback that has visibly impacted City’s defense, which has managed only two clean sheets this season, one of them in his absence.
While he focuses on his recovery, Rodri’s contributions over the past year have been duly celebrated. City will face Tottenham in the Carabao Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday without him.