Manchester City’s midfield maestro Rodri has been crowned the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, becoming the first defensive midfielder in nearly three decades to claim the sport’s most prestigious individual honor. The Spanish international’s exceptional achievements with both club and country have finally shattered the award’s traditional bias toward attacking players, marking a significant shift in how football’s controlling influences are recognized.
The 28-year-old’s triumph represents more than just personal glory; it symbolizes a long-overdue acknowledgment of the pivotal role that defensive midfielders play in modern football. Not since Matthias Sammer in 1996 has a player in this position claimed the golden ball, highlighting the historical significance of Rodri’s achievement.
The timing of this recognition couldn’t be more fitting. Rodri’s influence on the pitch has been nothing short of phenomenal, epitomized by an astounding 74-game unbeaten run with Manchester City that spanned 475 days. His absence spoke as loudly as his presence – City lost all three Premier League matches he missed during the 2023-24 season following a suspension for an uncharacteristic confrontation with Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.
The Spaniard’s contribution to Manchester City’s historic fourth consecutive Premier League title transcended the traditional defensive midfielder’s role. While maintaining his defensive responsibilities, Rodri demonstrated remarkable offensive capabilities, contributing eight goals and nine assists in the league campaign. These numbers put him ahead of creative powerhouses like Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, accounting for 17 percent of City’s total goal involvement – an extraordinary feat for a player in his position.
Spain national team manager Luis de la Fuente’s description of Rodri as “a perfect computer” perfectly encapsulates the midfielder’s influence on the game. De la Fuente, who witnessed Rodri’s brilliance during Spain’s triumphant European Championship campaign, went as far as to publicly advocate for his Ballon d’Or win, declaring him “the best player in the world.
What makes Rodri’s success particularly compelling is his understated approach to the game. Unlike many modern footballers, he maintains a remarkably grounded perspective on individual accolades. I don’t play football for that,” he told The Guardian in a July interview, reflecting a humility that has characterized his career since his early days at Villarreal, where he continued living in university halls even after breaking into the first team.
Pep Guardiola, who initially took time to fully appreciate Rodri’s capabilities – notably benching him for the 2021 Champions League final against Chelsea – has become one of his staunchest advocates. The best midfield player in the world, by far,” Guardiola declared in March, acknowledging how Rodri’s control and game management have become central to City’s success.
The impact of Rodri’s play extends beyond his personal statistics. As former City forward Paul Dickov noted, his presence enables the creative freedom of teammates like De Bruyne, Foden, and Silva. This facilitating role was equally evident in Spain’s European Championship victory, where his midfield mastery provided the platform for young talents like Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal to flourish.
Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer’s description of facing Rodri provides perhaps the most vivid illustration of the Spaniard’s excellence. “He’s literally just a Rolls Royce,” Lockyer remarked, highlighting how Rodri controls and dictates the tempo of matches with an almost mystifying level of precision.
This Ballon d’Or victory represents more than just individual recognition; it signals a potential shift in how football evaluates excellence. In an era dominated by goalscorers and attacking players, Rodri’s win acknowledges the subtle art of controlling a football match from its engine room. His triumph challenges the traditional narrative that the sport’s highest individual honors are reserved for those who fill highlight reels with goals and spectacular plays.
As football continues to evolve, Rodri’s Ballon d’Or victory might well be remembered as the moment when the beautiful game finally gave its defensive architects their due recognition. For a player who once drove a second-hand Opel Corsa long after becoming a professional, this golden acknowledgment serves as testament to the fact that true excellence in football transcends the flashier aspects of the game.
The front pages that Guardiola once said would never feature holding midfielders will now proudly display Rodri’s image, golden ball in hand, representing not just his own achievement but a victory for all those who master the art of making their teams tick from the shadows of midfield.
