Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri was won the men’s Ballon d’Or on Monday after winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title and Euro 2024, while Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony.
With Real Madrid’s Liga and Champions League double winner Vinicius Junior largely seen as the favourite, the midfielder’s selection as the world’s finest player was unexpected.
The Spanish club declared hours before the ceremony in Paris that its delegation would not be attending the ceremony at the Chatelet Theatre due to what it believed to be Vinicius’s rejection.
Rodri, 28, played a key role as City held off Arsenal to win the Premier League title last season and was named player of the tournament at Euro 2024 as unfancied Spain emerged triumphant in Germany.
Rodri was diplomatic when addressing the question of Real’s no-show in his post-award press conference.
“They have their decision, they didn’t want to be here for their reasons,” he said. “I just focus on my club and my team-mates.”
The winner’s identity was reportedly revealed before the celebrations, even though the French organisers insisted that it was a closely-guarded secret this year.
After leading her team to an unprecedented continental quadruple of trophies and winning the Nations League with her nation, Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati previously won her second consecutive women’s Ballon d’Or.
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