Rodri Hernández wins the Ballon d’Or and breaks 60 years of drought for Spanish men’s football

The main reason, being champion of the Euro Cup, chosen as the best player of the tournament, the lighthouse and leader on the field and off it of the best team, by game and results, on the Old Continent. A collective triumph that he wanted to remember fondly, with mention of three names in particular. Luis de la Fuente, “for his trust from day one”, Carvajalwho suffered the same injury as Rodri and who “deserved to be here as a winner”, and Lamine Yamal, whom he pushed to “continue working hard” so that the Spanish drought does not have to last another six decades.

Standing on the stage that focused all the spotlights, aided by crutches, due to the cruciate injury that will keep him without playing the entire season, and with teary eyes, Rodri still caressed the long-awaited trophy with some disbelief. His first memory, for those closest to him, from his girlfriend with whom he celebrated just eight years together yesterday, to his family, responsible for molding him into who he is. “Grateful for the values ​​they have given me and what they represent for me, so as not to get confused, to follow the correct steps,” he maintained.

Likewise, he claimed his victory as a collective triumph of Spanish national football. «It is not just a victory for me, it is for all of Spanish football. “So many players who have not won it are rewarded, like Xavi, Iniesta, Iker (Casillas), Busi (Busquets), I don’t want to leave any of them out.” In addition to those mentioned by the Madrid native, who suffered the yoke of the ruthless fight between Messi and Cristiano, Butragueño, Míchel, Fernando Torres and, above all, Raúl, were on the verge of winning the Ballon d’Or. A drought that ended It continued until a certain Rodri emerged from the bowels of Madrid, converted into Don Rodrigo. A period player, a splendid midfielder, who broke a contempt of more than six decades and earned the debt of the most prestigious award in Spanish football.

Raised sportingly in the Atlético de Madrid youth academy, he moved to Villarreal, where his dream of becoming a footballer experienced its worst moment, as he narrated this Monday at the gala. «At 17 years old I packed my bags to fulfill my dream of playing in the First Division. But one day I said enough. I called my father crying with the feeling that everything was over, that I had invested my entire life to achieve it and the dream was fading away. He told me that I couldn’t throw in the towel and that I had to continue until the end. From that day my mentality changed to this point.”

He was discovered as a different footballer at Madrigal, which led Atlético to buy him back. One season at the Metropolitano was enough for Guardiola to spend 70 million euros. At Manchester City he has achieved greatness. “I am in the best club in the world, and thanks to that everything is easier,” Rodri praised his entity.

The man from Madrid also wanted to highlight the midfielder position, which is often far from the focus it deserves. “Many times we do the dirty work and thanks to this award all that work has come to light,” he said.

Likewise, Rodri boasted of his way of being. A ‘rare avis’ personality in the world of football, which seemed to reduce his chances of winning individual awards and taking center stage. However, it has shown that the opposite can be true. «A normal boy, with values, who studies, who does not pay attention to stereotypes, can get here and be the best player in the world», he concluded.

Aitana Bonmatí maintains the glory of Spanish women’s football

For its part, Spanish women’s football continues to be sweet in terms of individual awards. Aitana Bonmatí She emulated her predecessor Alexia Putellas and won her second consecutive Ballon d’Or, thus increasing the number of awards chained by national soccer players to four. Champion of everything with Barcelona, ​​scorer and best player in the Champions League final, winner of the Nations League with the national team, she remains for another year as the best soccer player in the world.

Despite the great options that existed, no Spanish coach was able to win the renamed Johan Cruyff trophy. The absent Carlo AncelottiLeague and Champions League champion, and Emma Hayes, American coach and Olympic champion in Paris, were the best coaches of last season.

The first award of the Parisian night was the trophy Kopawhich without surprise awarded Lamine Yamal as the best player under 21 years of age, thus becoming the youngest in history to win it at 17 years old. His performance at the Eurocup catapulted him to global stardom and, after confirming himself as the best young player in the world, Drogba, presenter of the gala, presented him with a major challenge ahead of him: surpassing Ronaldo Nazário as the earliest Ballon d’Or winner. forever.

After the Barcelona player left the stage, his president Joan Laporta and his colleague Alexia Putellas came on as representatives of the best women’s club. Undisputed prize after the historic victory won by Jonatan Giráldez, Champions and League included. Real Madrid followed, named best men’s club, also king of Europe and Spain, but the physical trophy was orphaned due to the white club’s sit-in.

A circumstance that was repeated in the Gerd Müller award, which honors the top scorer of the season. kane and Mbappe They were the co-winners thanks to their 52-goal tie last season, but only the German collected the award. In the opposite area of ​​​​the field, Lev Yashin choosing the best goalkeeper was for the second consecutive year for Emiliano ‘Dibu’ MartínezCopa América champion with Argentina and a key player in Emery’s successful Aston Villa.

In the only non-sports episode of the gala, Jenni Hermoso succeeded Vinicius as winner of the Socrates award, which values ​​the commitment of footballers to building a more fair and inclusive society. In her speech, the Spanish player called for football “free of prejudice and gender violence.”