Rodri, the Manchester City and Spain midfielder, won the prestigious Ballon d’Or for the first time on October 28 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, celebrating his exceptional collective achievements beyond mere statistics. The night saw Vinicius Jr., who finished second, boycott the ceremony along with the Real Madrid delegation, expressing discontent over journalists’ voting decisions. Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal followed in third and fourth place, respectively.
While English media like The Guardian reported on the outrage from the European champions, The Sun emphasized the snub by the Real Madrid players. Conversely, Spanish outlets highlighted the triumph of Spanish football, showcasing Rodri’s achievement alongside Aitana Bonmati, who was named the best female player in the world for the second consecutive year. Lamine Yamal received the Kopa Trophy for best young player, marking a celebration of Spain’s midfield talent.
Marca featured a jubilant headline celebrating Spanish football, while Mundo Deportivo noted that Rodri is only the second Spaniard to receive the Ballon d’Or since Luis Suarez in 1960. Rodri’s heartfelt speech honored the collective spirit of Spanish football, underlining his tactical and creative contributions that defined both Manchester City and the national team. Similarly, Sport acknowledged a remarkable podium for female football, with Bonmati taking the top spot ahead of her fellow teammates.
