The newly appointed Ballon d’Or 2024, Rodri Hernandezstands out for being one of the best midfielders on the current scene. And it took a long time to see a Spanish player again with the Golden Ball which accredits him as the best player on the planet. The Madrilenian leads the way Manchester City and of Spanish national team.
Although there was a time when this was not the case, when Rodri as a child was active in the Atletico Madrid. The story of Rodri and Atlético began when the player was just a young player at the rojiblanco club, where he gradually climbed the lower categories until there came a time when the club He chose to do without the player when he was in the youth division.
With Julien Munoz as a career leader, it was decided that his physique, and especially his small sizewould not allow him to be at the level of his peers. So, instead of moving up to the first team in the Division of Honor, they relegated him to third, where, far from being a key figure, I didn’t even start as a starter.
It is a decision which surprised and whose justification remained in the shadows, because this low pivot today He is 1.90 meters tall. Returning to Cholo Simeone’s team at the age of 23, Rodri Hernández made his debut on August 15, 2018, in the final of the European Super Cup won against Real Madrid by 4-2 in Tallinn.
And, after a campaign in which in 47 matches as colchonero He scored 3 goals and was a key player in Cholo’s plan.City paid the Spaniard’s 70 million euro clause and, since the summer of 2019, Rodri has been under the orders of Pep Guardiola, with whom he won 4 Premier Leagues, 1 Champions League, 2 Community Shields, 2 Carabao Cup, an FA Cup, a European Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
The Spanish and the Ballon d’Or
The history of the Spaniards with the Ballon d’Or is full of injustices, and the best generation of Spanish footballers in history (2008-2014) remained without any recognition. In 2008, after the European Cup won by Spain, Fernando Torres finished third, overtaken by Messi and Cristiano. The following year, it was Xavi who occupied this place with identical protagonists in front.
However, the biggest frustration came in 2010. Spain won the South Africa World Cupbut Messi It was the Ballon d’Or. Few people understood Iniesta’s second position and Xavi’s third. The following year he finished third at Terrasa, while in 2012 that place went to Iniesta. Today, after 64 years, a Spaniard wins the prize for the best player in the world again.
RODRI IS THE 2024 MEN’S GOLDEN BALL! #ballondor @ManCity @Champions League pic.twitter.com/heWvSQsOxn
– Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
