Midfielder Rodrigo Hernández, winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Orassured during his speech after receiving the award that the award is “a reward for all of Spanish football” and he recalled “so many Spaniards who did not win it and who deserved it”, among whom he cited Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets or Iker Casillas.
The Manchester City and Spanish national team player also remembered Daniel Carvajal, who said that “I deserved it as much” as himand Lamine Yamal: “He will win it in no timekeep working hard, you have everything ahead of you.” The Madrid native, who went on stage on crutches to collect the trophy due to his recent ligament and meniscus injury, assured that it was “a special day, not only for me, but also for my family and for my country.
“Today Spanish football wonand it is a source of pride for the midfielder, a role that often goes unnoticed,” he added. The Brazilian Vinicius (second) and the Englishman Jude Bellingham (third), both from Real Madrid, completed the podium of the trophy presented by Liberian George Weah, Ballon d’Or in 1995.
With this award, Rodri becomes the second Spaniard in history to win the Ballon d’Or. according to Luis Suárez He won it in 1960. Rodri, 28, was a key player last season for Spain’s European champions and Manchester City, with whom he won four consecutive Premier Leagues. “I give the midfielders the visibility that sometimes we have dark work and sometimes it comes to light,” he stressed.
The newest Ballon d’Or has been defined as a person “normal” and “calm”who doesn’t spend a lot of time on social media and likes to be with his family. He thanked those who voted for him and his teammates at City, but also “to my team, to Luis (de la Fuente), to my teammates with whom we won the European Championship.”
He also recalled with emotion his beginnings, with the support of his family and his agent, among the doubts about his ability to break into professional football. With this victory, Rodri is the first Manchester City player to win the Ballon d’Or, after his teammates Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland reached the podium in previous years, third and second respectively.
