Manchester City are getting used to seeing their players get nominated to win the Ballon d’Or.
After winning the Treble, five players from City’s squad ended up in the top 10 for the 2023 rankings, with others featuring in the top 30.
In the latest rankings, four players from the Manchester club have been included in the top 30 list of nominees.
One of those players is Rodri, who not only played a vital role in seeing City win their fourth consecutive Premier League trophy last season but also went on to help Spain win the 2024 European Championship.
Now though, the midfielder has opened up about potentially getting his hands on this prestigious award.
- READ MORE: Who is Rodri? Get to know Man City’s modest midfield maestro who won a Champions League final
Rodri discusses Ballon d’Or chances
Speaking in a recent interview with ESPN, Rodri had this to say about the Ballon d’Or including how it would feel if he were to win it and what his chances are of doing so.
He said: “Yes, of course, it would be a dream for me. There are a lot of people who say if Rodri is going to win it, how, for example, did [Andres] Iniesta or Xavi not win it?
“In part, I agree. They were players who marked an era, some of the best in history, but it is also true that, at the of the end day, they were part of a generation that included [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo].
“But it would be a source of pride for me and for my country to win it. Having a Spanish representative who is capable of winning the Ballon d’Or enriches everyone.
“People say I’m going to fight with Vinicius [Junior], who is someone I admire. I think he is a great player. Just being in the conversation makes me very proud of the work I’ve put in.
“It will depend a little bit on what people value [when they vote], what they believe, and honestly, there are a lot of players who deserve to win it, so we will see what the decision is.
“But imagine for me, to be in the conversation that the people when I walk into the street, they say to me, you’re going to win the Ballon d’Or, you deserve it. And for me, that means I am already a winner with this.
“The people that believe that I can be the best player in the world and telling me these kinds of things, for me is incredible.
“I never dream about this. But once you are in this situation, this position, because a lot of years of work, a lot of trust on yourself and the help of all the people, you think about this award and being there is just unbelievable.”
Rodri deserves to win the Ballon d’Or
The previous Premier League campaign saw Rodri appear in 34 games, scoring eight goals and providing nine assists along the way.
His overall performances ultimately earned the Spaniard a season rating of 7.62/10 from WhoScored, making him the second-highest-rated player in the division.
Having then gone on to start six of Spain’s seven games at the Euros, it came as no surprise that Rodri was nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
In fact, Shaka Hislop said earlier this month that he thinks Rodri deserves to win the Ballon d’Or due to how important he is for club and country.
Moving forward, not only would winning this award be very special for the player and his country, but it would also be monumental for City as well and highlight how much of a top signing he has been for them.
