In the storm of the year Ballon d’Or race, Roadie’s The win is a storyline few expected, but it has everyone buzzing. While players like Vinicius Jr. Rodri, dazzling with his outstanding talent and goal-scoring ability, won the award because he was at the heart of every winning strategy his team implemented this year.
It was not about flashy techniques, fast running, or crowd-pleasing showmanship. It was about precision, dominance in midfield and being the unwavering rock when everyone else was shaking.
Rodri’s season has been a masterclass in controlling the game centrally, determining the tempo and making the impossible simple. Football fans know these subtle techniques don’t make the headlines, but for players and managers, they’re pure gold.
Anyone who watches Vinicius II’s thrilling style – lightning speed, defender-spinning dribbles, logic-defying goals – will naturally ask: How can you surpass him? However, when you peel back the layers of the 2023-2024 season, Rodri’s achievements shine just as brightly.
After all, the Ballon d’Or is not just about natural talent. It’s a testament to the player’s influence, consistency and ability to take his team’s game to dizzying new heights. It was there that Rodri stood tall.
At Manchester City, he was indispensable, the strategic backbone of a team full of attacking firepower, amplifying the performances of other players while ensuring every game felt polished and controlled. He wasn’t just there when they lifted the trophy, he was fundamental.
Rodri’s case did not rely on classic “best player” attributes, but on a unique quality that allowed him to instantly turn a game around, even without the ball. Watch a City game and you’ll see Rodri pulling the strings in all directions. He doesn’t sprint past defenders. He’s neutralizing the attacker before he even realizes he has options. Rather than scoring goals, he coordinates and facilitates the build-up from the back to the front line.
Simply put, Rodri became the answer to all of City’s questions, delivering accurate passes under pressure, closing down space with calm authority and adapting seamlessly to every tactical adjustment that came his way. It’s as if he turns every game into a chessboard where he plays the grandmaster. Always 10 moves ahead.
Then there’s his performance. Champions League—This is an important factor. This season Rodri has been the backbone of City’s Champions League campaign, stepping up when it matters most. Remember how he won the final against Inter Milan? It wasn’t just a performance. It was a clinic on how to dominate club football’s biggest stage without attracting attention.
There he beat Vinicius Jr., who had an outstanding season. real madrid But he couldn’t control the game on his own like Rhodri could. In the Champions League, Vinicius has been breathtaking but at times inconsistent in terms of impact, while Rodri has brought the consistency and solid sense of fundamentals that have led to match wins.
As observers, we often miss roadie’s bread and butter – the gritty, relentless efforts that don’t make the highlight reel. The Ballon d’Or judges considered the sum of his performances to be more than the brilliance of a single goal or match-winning goal. He transformed City’s play from the base, solidified the structure and provided the reliability that made the team look unbeatable as a whole.
Winning the Ballon d’Or wasn’t about showmanship. What every team, even the star-studded ones, craves is steely determination and pinpoint focus.
For Vinicius Jr., it was just a matter of timing. He had all the ingredients to win the Ballon d’Or, but he was up against a man who gave consistency a whole new meaning. Rodri’s win in Ballon d’Or history marks a return to basics. That is, a masterful understanding of the nature of control and what it means to dominate without the limelight.
Vinicius will undoubtedly have his moments, but 2024 was Rodri’s. He proved that sometimes unsung heroes deserve a standing ovation.
