Spanish and Manchester City Football Club star, Rodri has won the Ballon D’Or 2024.
He was announced winner, after beating Brazilian and Real Madrid Star, Vinicius Jr, and a host of others, in a star-studded ceremony held in Paris, France on Monday night.
But there have been debates over how Rodri won the award ahead of reigning Champions League star, Vinicius Jr.
The award is tainted by reports that Vinicius, who has been in scintillating form since last year, was denied for ‘non-sporting reasons’
Rodri is the first Premier League player in 16 years to scoop the prestigious prize, after Christiano Ronaldo in 2008.
Rodri, who picked up an ACL injury in September against Arsenal, enjoyed the standout season of his career in 2023-24, winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title and lifting the Euro 2024 trophy with Spain.
The 28-year-old won the Best Player award from the tournament in Germany last summer despite being forced off at half-time in the final against England.
He was helped onto the stage after arriving on crutches, having been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Remarkably, Rodri also went 74 games – and 475 days – without experiencing defeat for club and country during the past year, with the run coming to an end in the FA Cup final against Manchester United last May.
The last time Rodri lost a Premier League game was a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham in February 2023.
He became the first defensive midfielder to win the award, stretching back to 1956, while he is the first Spaniard to do so since Luis Suarez of Barcelona in 1960.
