UK Media Backs Rodri for Ballon d’Or: His Impact and Significance Outweigh Bellingham and Vinícius, Plus No Messi Competition This Time

On July 19, UK media outlet OneFootball published an article strongly endorsing Rodri, stating that his impact is greater than that of Bellingham and Vinícius, with better achievements, and he deserves to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

OneFootball discusses Real Madrid’s stars Bellingham and Vinícius: “Real Madrid won the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League title, which makes Vinícius and Bellingham frontrunners for the Ballon d’Or. However, last season Manchester City secured their first-ever treble, yet Haaland and Rodri were not awarded the Ballon d’Or, indicating that the Champions League is not a decisive factor in determining the winner.”

The media uses Sammer’s 1996 Ballon d’Or win to build momentum for Rodri: “Rodri is not an attacking player, which might be a hurdle for him. The last defensive player to win the Ballon d’Or was Cannavaro in 2006, and the last defensive midfielder to do so was Sammer in 1996. Notably, Sammer won the Ballon d’Or in a year when he also won the European Championship, beating out top forwards like Ronaldo and Shearer.”

The media outlines reasons why Rodri should win the Ballon d’Or: “In recent years, Rodri has made significant contributions to Manchester City and Spain’s various triumphs. He has already been named the best player in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Nations League, and European Championship. Rodri’s control of the game’s tempo, passing accuracy, and defensive impact are unparalleled, and he is crucial to his team. In the 2023-24 Premier League season, Manchester City remained undefeated in the games Rodri played (27 wins and 7 draws). In the four games he missed, Manchester City only managed one win and three losses.”

The media highlights a key factor: “Last year, despite Manchester City’s treble, the Ballon d’Or was awarded to Messi, causing controversy. However, this year, with Messi no longer in the running, Rodri’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or have increased significantly.”