The Spain international has forged a reputation as one of the finest midfielders in world football since joining City in 2019, with those qualities now recognised with one of the game’s most coveted prizes.
In doing so, he’s also become the first Premier League player to win the award since 2008 and first to win both the European Championships and the Ballon d’Or in the same year since Matthias Sammer in 1996.
Below are some of the tributes the midfielder has received over the past few hours from team-mates, pundits and journalists alike...
Player tributes
Lamine Yamal: Rodri is a fantastic player
“Receiving this award and having your work recognized is something incredible.
“Rodri is a fantastic player and an amazing person.”
Andres Iniesta
The Spain and Barcelona legend posted on X:
“More than deserved. Congratulations, Rodri ❤️✨“
Ilkay Gundogan: A world class holding midfielder
“From today on he is finally not ‘underrated’ anymore. Congratulations to my teammate Rodri on winning the Ballon d’Or!
“For me this is very well deserved! I’m especially happy that someone in a defensive position is winning this title and not always just the offensive players.
“Rodri is the perfect midfielder and there’s no one that plays his position better than he does - there are so many clubs in Europe that are looking for a world class holding midfielder, but in the end there’s only him!
“What a development in recent years!”
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Joleon Lescott: A true legend to the game
“I’m so pleased for him. He’s someone who is so consistent, hearing him speak, you could see what it means to him.
“It’s probably not a trophy he looked up and thought about winning when he was setting out to play the game. You set out to win trophies, but the Ballon d’Or is probably beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.
“So, to achieve that, I saw the sign saying, ‘welcome to Legend’, you’re a true legend to the game not just of City or the Premier League, of the game.
“Not a lot of people who have played the game and won that trophy. He’s one of them.”
Izzy Christiansen: An example of hard work
“There’s so much appreciation for what he does on the pitch.
“It’s not something you hear many players set out to say ‘I want to achieve this in my career. I don’t think Rodri’s the type to ever dream of that, and he’s got that not by default but purely by the way he perseveres and works hard every day.
“I don’t think any youth player can underestimate the value of working hard every day, look what it gets you.
“He’s very humble, very likeable and very well loved at City and beyond. I’m delighted.”
Media tributes
Sky Sports - Finally, the football world is talking about Rodri
Adam Bate writes:
“It feels part of a belated realisation that this is the man responsible for getting the best teams playing - at club and international level. Goals still attract our attention. But Rodri is such a presence that he is hard to ignore.
“Picture City in possession and you will picture Rodri, spraying it left and right, the ball rarely more than a few passes away from returning to its rightful spot at his feet. He had over 4000 touches of the football in the Premier League last season. It was a record.
“His metronomic use of the ball makes the game look easy. It is not. He receives passes under such pressure that a lesser player would be horrified to be expected to do anything whatsoever with it. He holds off his marker, drops a shoulder and strolls away.
“His manager and his team-mates can only smile as the holding midfielder supposed to operate in the shadows receives the award supposedly reserved for the glory guys. Finally, the football world is talking about Rodri.”
ESPN: A reference point for every aspiring midfielder
Mark Ogden writes:
“Fabio Cannavaro’s [Ballon d’Or] success was the first non-forward since Germany defender / midfielder Matthias Sammer won the award in 1996, again after helping his national team to success at Euro ‘96, while only Germany defender Franz Beckenbauer (1972 and 1976) and Russia goalkeeper Lev Yashin (1963) had previously denied attacking players the Ballon d’Or since it was first awarded in 1956.
“So, history was not on Rodri’s side and neither was current form or fitness, but the 28-year-old was a Premier League winner with City last season -- 12 months after his goal in the Champions League final win against Inter Milan sealed the club’s Treble -- and he was also named as Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament after helping Spain to success in Germany this summer.
“He is the player who has forgotten how it feels to lose in the Premier League, with his recent injury halting his run of 52 games without defeat in the competition, dating back to Feb. 2023.
“At the peak of his career and with multiple successes with City and Spain on his roll of honour, Rodri has made himself the reference point for every aspiring midfielder in the game.”
Goal: Rodri’s influence is now universally appreciated
Richard Martin writes:
“The 28-year-old was front and centre of his club and country’s triumphs last season, and the incredible role he plays has rightly been acknowledged
“He might not get the same level of praise as some of his team-mates, but his influence on Manchester City and Spain is now universally appreciated.
“He does not “hide behind the team”; he is front of centre for club and country and last season won two of the most prestigious prizes in football, the Premier League title with City and the European Championship with Spain.
“And on Monday he got the true recognition he deserves by winning the 2024 Ballon d’Or.”
“He’s done everything”
Spanish football expert Guilleme Balague speaking to BBC Sport
“Rodri has done everything he has needed at club and international level.
“He plays the role that doesn’t usually get accolades, but everyone recognises the value of it.
“When Rodri got injured at half-time of the Euros final, the feeling in the stands, among the pundits, even the players, was ‘what a gap to fill’. That tells you everyone realises he is the player who dictates the play. Everyone looks up to his leadership as well.”
“The most intelligent player in the world”
French journalist Julien Laurens speaking to BBC Sport:
“Rodri has been the best player in the world for two seasons now. I know he isn’t in an offensive position - he doesn’t score goals, do dribbles or tricks.
“But he is the most intelligent player in his position in the world.
“He is super decisive and the last few years he has been outstanding for club and country. He deserves the Ballon d’Or more than anyone else.”
