Manchester Metropolis midfielder Rodri learn the identical stories as everybody forward of this yr’s Ballon d’Or – that Actual Madrid’s Vinicius Junior gave the impression to be the overwhelming favorite to win the award.
Vinicius topped the chances lists forward of the ceremony – in terms of the Ballon d’Or, they’re very hardly ever fallacious.
Even when Rodri stroked the winner within the Champions League remaining and bagged the Treble in 2023, he solely got here fifth , with holding midfielders hardly ever thought-about for the award, regardless of how proficient.
Rodri’s yr of glory
Rodri on the Euros (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
In an unique interview with FourFourTwo journal, Rodri defined that he feared the second had handed when he didn’t come near bagging the award a yr in the past.
“After the season earlier than, showing in essential moments, I assumed that was the yr to possibly problem for it,” he mentioned.
Vinicius was the favorite to win the Ballon d’Or (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
“I by no means anticipated to repeat it once more, because it’s a matter of many issues – showing in big moments, successful collectively, performing properly all season. Then 2023-24 got here and it was one other unbelievable yr for me.
“I realised that maybe I had some likelihood, however due to the whole lot within the media, it was so clear that the opposite man was successful and I didn’t anticipate a lot. Within me although, I assumed, ‘Properly, it’s a vote of 100 journalists, let’s wait’.”
Having received each the Premier League and the Euros, Rodri did actually bag the award, changing into the primary holding midfielder to win the gong since Lothar Matthaus in 1990.
As is all the time the case with such high-profile awards, a world debate raged over whether or not he deserved it.
Rodri (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
“A couple of gamers deserved it, however what made the distinction in my case was possibly the consistency, and all the time being there from August to July,” he instructed FFT .
“They valued my significance to my nationwide staff and my membership, and likewise the main trophies I received.
“We will all agree it’s so troublesome as a holding midfielder, or a full-back or centre again – think about as a keeper…
Rodri with the Ballon d’Or (Picture credit score: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Pictures)
“My pals texted me and mentioned soccer received. They gave worth to different methods of understanding soccer – as a collective, as a midfielder, because the supervisor on the pitch.
“It’s an honour not only for me, however for all of the midfielders in historical past.”
You may learn the complete interview with Rodri about his Ballon d’Or triumph within the particular awards concern of FourFourTwo journal, out on Thursday.
