Some may be surprised that Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d’Or award, but not because there are any questions regarding the Manchester City star’s qualifications. Simply put, central midfielders are rarely in the running for a reward that has always been dominated by attacking players.
Although Jorginho, who was then with Chelsea, finished third in 2021, center midfielders seldom make it to the Ballon d’Or finals, much less take home the trophy. Kaka, who was hardly a center midfielder, was the last midfielder to win the coveted honor in 2007. Andrés Iniesta and Xavi were in the top three on multiple occasions between 2009 and 2012. Rivaldo (1999) and Zinedine Zidane (1998) had already won it before Pavel Nedved in 2003.
In addition, he became the first Spanish player to win the Ballon d’Or in 64 years, after Luis Suárez (1960) and Alfredo Di Stéfano (1957 and 1959).
Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid had been the bookmakers’ favorite to win following his own incredible season, which included scoring in the team’s 2-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League final. Rio Ferdinand, a TNT Sports commentator, tried his hardest to win the Ballon d’Or! at Wembley after the Brazilian scored that goal in May, but it wasn’t enough.
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