Manchester City star Rodri has reportedly been named as this year’s Ballon d’Or winner after a series of reports and leaks online.
The Spanish midfield maestro who has been integral to Man City’s success ever since he joined back in 2019 – especially in their Treble-winning year as he scored the only goal in the Champions League final to seal the magnificent feat – was named among the frontrunners for the coveted sporting award.
Having not only won everything there is to lift with the Blues, he was a crucial cog in Spain’s Euro 2024-winning side and also set the record for the most games unbeaten in club football back in May.
With that in mind, when it was reported that not a single member of Real Madrid’s team would be travelling to the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday (that includes Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, by the way) subsequent rumours that Rodri name is already on the trophy followed.
Looks like Rodri has won the ballon dor, the winner has been leaked 🔥🔥🔥 #BallonDor pic.twitter.com/N3FWtQXI85
— Jacky (@MCFC_Jacky) October 28, 2024
Multiple so-called ‘leaks’ like this have been circulating on social media and while this doesn’t necessarily confirm anything, it was the follow-up coverage by reliable football reporter Fabrizio Romano that has added extra fuel to the fire.
The Italian transfer expert and breaking football news specialist first backed up fellow journalist Fabrice Hawkins’ claim that Vini Jr would not be attending the awards in Paris tonight, before adding that neither would a single representative from Madrid.
When not a single member of Los Blancos is turning up whatsoever, you know there’s something amiss…
Meanwhile, the 28-year-old defensive midfielder – who also still contributed nine goals and 14 assists across all competitions – has already been filmed arriving in the French capital.
City themselves also posted what admittedly does feel like a not-so-subtly timed compilation of the number 16’s best bits from his standout 2023/24 campaign.
hmmmmmm, do they know something?
— 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐒 (@ChaaliiyKay) October 28, 2024
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Once again, much of this still remains largely conjecture but if the talents playing for the La Liga giants truly aren’t attending the event itself, you would assume it’s because they know they’re not winning and if they’re ruled out then that would mean Rodri is one of a very small few contenders left at the top of list.
Rodri is currently out for the rest of the season, having suffered a serious injury during Euro 2024 after leading his country to the final when they beat England this past summer, with the worst ultimately being confirmed after a short-lived comeback against Arsenal last month.
That being said, his absence from Pep Guardiola’s squad is noticeable and his impact when he is available cannot be overstated; City very rarely lose when Rodri is in the starting lineup and when you’re talking about a player who has won more trophies (8) than he has lost games for club and country since 2023 (4), it’s not hard to see why he’s tipped as favourite to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Meanwhile, the mood is ironically rather blue over in the red half of Manchester as United manager Erik ten Hag‘s time at Old Trafford has come to an end after two and a half years.
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Featured Images — Manchester City/Rolandhino1 (Wikimedia Commons)
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