Rodri, First Manchester City Ballon d’Or Recipient, Highlights His ‘Regular Guy’ Identity

Midfielder Rodri, who made history as the inaugural Manchester City player to receive the Ballon d’Or award, addressed the attendees in Paris, stating: “A very special day for me, my family and my country.” He further elaborated that his achievement was not solely a personal triumph, but rather a victory “for Spanish football, for so many players who have not won it and have deserved it, like [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi [Hernandez], Iker [Casillas], Sergio Busquets, so many others. It is for Spanish football and for the figure of the midfielder.” Rodri also mentioned that numerous friends had contacted him, conveying that “football has won, for giving visibility to so many midfielders who have a job in the shadows and today it is coming to light.” Concluding his remarks, he described himself as: “I’m a regular guy with values, who studies, who tries to do things right and doesn’t try to follow the stereotypes, and even so I have been able to get to the top and it is thanks to all of you.”