Rodri’s Ballon d’Or Anniversary: Inside the Manchester City Star’s Rise and Recovery

Last autumn, one post from Fabrizio Romano sent the football world spiralling into chaos ahead of the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony. The cast of Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony, having learnt that showman Vinicius Jr was not winning the award.

It was a statement ceremony that marked the true end of the Messi-Ronaldo monopoly over the award, despite Karim Benzema and Luka Modric winning in recent years. One criticism that the France Football trophy faces is its bias towards attackers over defensive players. Modric walked before Rodri could walk, but it was the Manchester City player who undisputedly could be described as the world’s best player this time last year.

The midfielder helped City win the Premier League in 2023/24, as well as the UEFA Super Cup. The FIFA World Cup win in 2023 also counted as part of the criterion period. Rodri also helped Spain lift Euro 2024, named Player of the Tournament along the way.

Rodri's victory immediately wrote him into history. He became just the third player to claim the accolade while playing for a Premier League club in the modern era, following Cristiano Ronaldo (2008) and Michael Owen (2001). More significantly, he ended a 64-year drought for Spanish players, stretching back to the legendary Luis Suárez in 1960.

Rising Above The Submarine

Villareal, the heart of the club where Rodri’s dreams began, posted a celebratory video to reflect on his journey to Ballon d’or winner, encapsulating what made the midfielder in his early days with The Yellow Submarines. As one youth academy coach observed, “I remember that Rodri observed the first team a lot, as they trained here. And if he had a free day without school, he was always watching training sessions.”

This early dedication translated into a fearless presence on the pitch. Marcelino, one of his formative coaches, saw the potential early: “He was a daring player, and I trusted him a lot. He already had a big personality.” Marcelino, who has since returned to the club as head coach, gave Rodri his first team debut in 2015 in the Copa Del Rey.

Rodri’s humility and dedication are rooted in his admiration for those who came before him.

Speaking as a young teenager at the time, he viewed his role model, former Villarreal captain Bruno Soriano, not just as an inspiration but as a benchmark: “My role model is Bruno Soriano. For me, he’s one of the best in the world in that position.” During his reflective acceptance speech, Rodri underscored the magnitude of his journey from Madrid: “At 17 years old, I packed my bags on my way to make my dreams come true. To go to Villarreal, to achieve my dreams of playing in the top flight.” Rodri didn’t just become a top flight player. He became one of just 46 men to hold this prize, as a definitive recognition of being the best player in the world.

Crucial Influence and Cruciate Ligaments

Rodri suffered an ACL injury in September of last year, a period that coincided with Pep Guardiola’s worst as a City manager. His absence alone turned a defending title campaign into a total car crash. Even when he returned after just nine months, beating the typical recovery window, Guardiola tempered expectations, implying it would feed well into the following season too: “It is a recovery between 10 and 12 months. It is a long, long injury.”

Those before him in a similar midfield maestro role, such as Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, and Ilkay Gundogan, had similar levels of influence on the blue moon rising. Rodri has not only carried that immense burden but went one step further to be recognised as the best player in the world as a City player. This search for Guardiola to look ahead recognised Nico Gonzalez as an indirect successor. In Pep’s preferred 4-1-4-1 formation this season, the two Spaniards have competed healthily, swapping starting roles at times.

ACL injuries often ‘end’ a player’s career psychologically, leaving them to never return to previous levels. This struggle takes on greater weight when considering his hero, Bruno Soriano. The now-retired Villareal midfielder went through a prolonged period of recurring knee injuries which resulted in the midfielder not playing a competitive match for over three years between 2017 and 2020. This devastating experience illustrates the dark blackhole Rodri successfully avoided.

Soriano captured the crippling mental toll when he reflected: “You feel like a zombie, wandering aimlessly. It made me sad to watch them [Villareal] play. I’ve missed three years and there was a lot of sadness. I will never forget what I have been through.”

While Soriano found inspiration in a brief, emotional comeback, Rodri has not only bounced back faster but has continued to ascend to the pinnacle. Rodri's triumphant return to importance in a new-look City side, coupled with his Ballon d'Or victory one year on, is a testament to his physical resilience and psychological strength.

Rodri achieved his teenage dream of playing ‘in the top flight’, and then went two steps further - defeating the politicking of Real Madrid, and biological science.