“That people think that I can be the best in the world for me is already incredible,” Rodri Hernández, a 28-year-old Manchester City midfielder, explained a few weeks ago in an interview he gave to the ESPN network. “It will depend a little on what people value and believe,” he added. Aware of the difficulty that those footballers who, like him, have a more defensive profile have in winning this type of individual recognition. However, after rumors that Vinícius is staying in Madrid because he knows he will not win, his candidacy has gained strength.
There are compelling reasons that explain the change of script. Last year, Manchester City won a fourth consecutive Premier League title, an unprecedented milestone in 135 years of English football. The team’s only two defeats in this competition coincided with Rodri’s absence due to suspension. Pep Guadiola’s team also won the Club World Cup and the European Super Cup. Between all these competitions, Rodri scored nine goals and gave 13 assists from the pivot position.
Read also
in the locker room citizen They baptized him as “the footballer who does not know defeat.” A definition that provides more data. Last year, the Madrid native played 50 games for City and only lost one. It was in the FA Cup final against Manchester United.
There are more sporting merits. The icing on the cake came in the summer with the achievement of the Euro Cup. The Spanish midfielder, who is also one of the captains of the team led by Luis de la Fuente, not only played a prominent role, but was named Player of the Tournament, a testament to his abilities even as a defensive midfielder. In total, Rodri’s numbers last season tell an impressive story: 12 goals and 15 assists, unprecedented numbers for someone in his position.
The MVP of the Euro Cup
Rodri’s sporting merits
Champion of Euro 2024 with the Spanish National Team.
Champion of the UEFA Nations League 2023 with the Spanish National Team.
Premier League champion 2023-24 with Manchester City.
Champion of the 2023 Club World Cup with Manchester City.
Champion of the 2023 European Super Cup with Manchester City.
MVP of the Euro 2024 tournament with the Spanish National Team.
MVP of the 2023 UEFA Nations League final with the Spanish National Team.
MVP of the 2023 UEFA Nations League tournament with the Spanish National Team.
Golden Ball of the 2023 Club World Cup tournament with Manchester City.
There are more criteria than sports. The jury also values the player’s decisive and impressive character as well as class and fair play, a fundamental factor as well. The man from Madrid is the type of footballer who does not get involved in brawls with referees, rivals and opposing fans. But he also defends those causes that he considers just.
Regarding the congestion of the football calendar that put the players on alert, he was one of the first to verbalize the discomfort of the European players in the face of a season in which they can reach 80 games played. “I think we are close to getting there. It is the general opinion among the players and, if this continues, we will have no choice. It is something that worries us, we are the ones who suffer from it,” said Rodri at the beginning of September.
Luis Suárez Miramontes won the award in 1960 and Alexia (2) and Aitana Bonmatí won it in the female category.
For these reasons, although the criteria for winning the Ballon d’Or usually lean heavily towards attackers who fill their locker with eye-catching scoring figures, Rodri could become the second Spaniard to win the golden award in the men’s category.
The Galician Luis Suárez Miramontes achieved it much earlier, in 1960, in the men’s category. He was wearing the Barcelona shirt and he raised it even though Real Madrid won the European Cup that year. History also says that there were two other strong candidates who never made it. They are Xavi and Iniesta, who aspired to the award in 2010 when they won the World Cup with the national team and signed the historic sextet with Guardiola. But everything has an explanation. There was Leo Messi, of course. In the women’s category, the two Ballon d’Ors of Alexia Putellas and that of Aitana Bonmatí, who aspires to win the second tonight at the Châtelet theater in Paris, already shine in the Spanish record.
Read also
Rodri was one of the first to verbalize the discomfort of European players in the face of a season in which they can reach 80 games played.
The Manchester City expedition received with surprise the news that came from Madrid with the absence of Vinícius already confirmed. If he wins the Ballon d’Or it will be a joy for the footballer who arrived in the French capital on crutches. He broke his cruciate at the end of September and underwent surgery on September 27. “The anterior cruciate ligament and the meniscus have been affected a little. Next season he will be back. This is over,” said Pep Guardiola, one of its great defenders. “I can’t deny how happy I would be if I could get it. But to be in the running, to be nominated or to win the Ballon d’Or is fantastic; for him, of course, for his family and friends, but also for Manchester City and the whole organization “said the coach a few weeks ago.
#Rodri #Spaniard #history #win #mens #Ballon #dOr
