Rodri is the 2024 Ballon D’or Winner
Manchester City’s Rodri (Full name, Rodrigo Hernández Cascante) has won the 2024 Ballon D’or. In a colorful ceremony held this evening at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, France, Rodri was declared the 2024 Ballon D’or Winner ahead of other nominees that included Vinicius Jnr, Erling Haarland and Kylian Mpape.
Rodri came to the award ceremony in clutches, as he is still yet to recover from the injury he suffered at the hands of Arsenal during their Premier league game in September.
Rodri won the award after a stellar 2023/2024 football season that saw him pick up silverware with both club and country. He helped Manchester city win the Premier League and the Community Shield and helped his country, Spain, win the 2024 European Nations Cup
Speaking at the ceremony in Paris, Rodri said, “A very special day, for me, my family and my country,”.
“I understand that because I have no social media, people don’t know me much. I am just a normal guy. I enjoy the sport, I enjoy my profession. And I try to be a good person. I am a very calm person.” “I am just trying to take care of myself. Rest, enjoy the free time with my family and come back stronger,”.
The 28-year-old won his fourth straight Premier League with City in May as Pep Guardiola’s side held off Arsenal’s challenge, winning their last nine games to clinch the title. He is the first player from England’s top tier to be crowned since Cristiano Ronaldo won in 2008 during his first stint with Manchester United.
Earlier in Paris, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for best under-21 player over the previous season, while Aitana Bonmatí claimed her second consecutive Ballon d’Or Féminin.
Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé shared the Gerd Müller trophy for most goals in the season, while Aston Villa and Argentina stopper Emiliano Martínez retained the prize for best goalkeeper in the world following his country’s Copa América title.
