Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided his first reaction to Rodri being named as the recipient of the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
The 28-year-old defeated stern competition from a number of his Manchester City teammates and a collection of high-ranking Real Madrid stars, including hot-favourite Vinicius Jr to be crowned the best player on the planet over the last season.
Rodri’s success and integral role in the Manchester City system en route to a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title, and his Player of the Tournament showings for Spain to win the European Championships in Germany proved decisive in the voting for the Ballon d’Or.
Rodri’s victory as a defensive midfielder means he becomes the first player in his position to be crowned Ballon d’Or recipient since Germany icon and legend Lothar Matthaus – who won the prize in 1990.
Reacting to news of Rodri’s success in the French capital of Paris on Monday evening, Pep Guardiola told reporters at a press conference the following day, “What can I say?! First of course, congratulate him and all his family and dear friends.
“It’s incredible news for him and of course for all of us, for all Manchester City, our fans – we are SO proud of him!” We could never imagine years ago that one player received this prestigious award, we are so delighted to be part of it, to share it with him.”
Guardiola continued, “Hopefully it can give him this energy to recover well for next season to be with us again!
“For us, last season for example that Erling (Haaland) won the Treble, more than 50 goals, and I said to him, ‘Just being at the Ballon d’Or, you have to be so, so happy!’
“And I think Rodri went there and all the time I said, if you are in the first two, three or four, it’s exceptional. That means you have done an incredible year and you have to be so, so satisfied.”
Given the highs and achievements of Spanish football over the last 20 years, at a time when the Ballon d’Or was dominated by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Guardiola also insisted that Rodri’s success was merely what Spanish football had ‘deserved’.
This is a developing story. More to follow.
