Why Rodri Should Win Ballon D’Or

It is pretty clear that Rodri, the Manchester City and Spain midfield metronome, is one of the most accomplished footballers on the planet. The control he exerts over games is almost unparalleled in today’s game and it sees him sit at the top of the pile when it comes to club and national team success.

But in the context of this year’s Ballon D’Or, does he have what it takes to claim the prize? And regardless of whether he wins it, would the result be deserved? Let’s analyse the field first.

Vinicius’ Claims to Fame

The Real Madrid winger is currently the bookies’ favourite to win the trophy famously handed out by the France Football magazine. Vinicius was vital in Real Madrid’s success last season, registering 33 goal contributions in 39 games for Los Blancos on their way to a La Liga and Champions League double.

One thing that can be held against him is Brazil’s rather short stay at the Copa America, where they were eliminated by Uruguay in a penalty shootout at the quarter-final stage.

Bellingham’s Arguments

Another Real Madrid player who is in with a big shout for this year’s prestigious Ballon D’Or is Englishman Jude Bellingham. In 2023/24, which was his first season for the Spanish club, he registered 36 goal contributions in all competitions and lived up to the hype following his £103 million arrival from Borussia Dortmund. His performances, like in Vinicius’ case, paved the way to the Spanish league title and the UEFA Champions League.

At EURO 2024, Bellingham, much like his other England teammates, did not exactly light the world on fire, but did provide one moment of magic, scoring the equaliser in the round of 16 game against Slovakia with an injury time overhead kick. He helped his national team reach the final, where they lost against Rodri’s Spain.

Other Worthy Candidates

Vinicius and Bellingham are not the only two obstacles standing in Rodri’s way to the 2024 Ballon D’Or. His Spain teammate Dani Carvajal also had an outstanding season for club and country, winning all trophies he competed for, with the exception of the Copa del Rey.

Argentinian players will probably enjoy being in the conversation for the award more often than not, and this year is no exception. Lautaro Martinez won the title in Italy with Inter Milan, as well as the Serie A’s top scorer award, while current Ballon D’Or holder Lionel Messi will most likely be involved in the debate until the day he retires. It also helps that they both won the Copa America 2024 with their national team.

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal was one of the brightest lights at this summer’s EURO, scoring and assisting for eventual winners Spain, setting age-related records with almost every step on the pitch and being generally extremely fun to watch. His chances to win the Ballon D’Or this year are slim, in part due to Barcelona’s lack of success, but we can expect him to be a serious contender in coming years.

Rodri’s Case

So how about City’s midfield heartbeat? There is an eye-opening stat that has been making the rounds on social media: Rodri has only lost four games in which he has started since the beginning of 2023. In the same amount of time he has won twice as many trophies (eight).

He was very close to perfect during 2023/24 for Manchester City, as he provided an effective shield in front of the defence, but also had 23 goal contributions in all competitions (17 in the Prem), showing that he’s not only a midfield destroyer.

His passing has been outstanding when compared to his Premier League peers too, with 3,633 successful passes ranking first in the competition (over 400 more that second-placed Lewis Dunk). The other crucial element to his game, recovering possession, sees him ranking second in the division, with 235 times he regained the ball. The only player above him was Bruno Guimaraes (237), who also played almost four full games more than Rodri.

Another telling aspect of his performances last season was how much City missed him when he was not available. In the EPL, he started 34 out of 38 games, losing none (27W, 7D). Out of the four games he missed, Guardiola’s men lost three.

The Spaniard has won the UEFA award for EURO 2024’s Player of the Tournament despite having to come off injured at half time in the final against England. Helping his team reach the Berlin showpiece by eliminating Georgia, Germany and France in the knockout stages was crucial for this award.

Should Rodri Win Ballon D’Or?

Historical bias against defensive-minded players means that it is an uphill battle for Rodri, as the last time such a player won the award was 2006, when Fabio Cannavaro clinched it for leading Italy to the World Cup trophy that year.

However, 1996 saw Matthias Sammer be crowned the winner ahead of Ronaldo and Alan Shearer, so there is precedent for a midfielder to overcome prolific goalscorers in the race for the Ballon D’Or.

Based on the stats, as well as the eye test and the trophy haul, we here at EPLNews do believe that Rodri should clinch it come October 28, as he has simply been the best in the world in 2023/24, both at club and national level. It would be very harsh for him not to get this prestigious piece of individual recognition, as he is the most deserving name in the conversation.