In the whirlwind of this year’s Ballon d’Or race, Rodri’s victory is the storyline few anticipated but everyone’s buzzing about. While players like Vinicius Jr dazzled with flair and goal-scoring prowess, Rodri clinched the prize because he’s the heartbeat of every winning strategy his teams pulled off this year.
It wasn’t about flashy skills, quick sprints, or crowd-pleasing showmanship. It was about precision, dominance in midfield, and being the unshakable rock when everyone else wavered.
Rodri’s season was a masterclass in controlling games from the center, dictating tempo, and making the impossible seem straightforward. Football fans know these subtler skills don’t grab headlines, but for players and managers, they’re pure gold.
For anyone watching Vinicius Jr’s electrifying style—lightning speed, dribbles that leave defenders spinning, and goals that seem to defy logic—the question naturally arose: How could anyone top that? But, if we peel back the layers of the 2023-2024 season, Rodri’s achievements shine just as brightly.
After all, the Ballon d’Or isn’t merely about raw talent; it’s a testament to a player’s impact, consistency, and the ability to elevate a team’s game to dizzying new heights. That’s where Rodri stood tall.
With Manchester City, he was indispensable, a strategic anchor in a team filled with offensive firepower, amplifying others’ performances while ensuring every single match had that polished, controlled feel. When they lifted trophies, he wasn’t just there—he was fundamental.
Rodri’s case didn’t rely on the classic “best player” attributes but on the unique qualities that can turn a game in an instant without the ball. Watch any City game, and you’ll see Rodri pulling strings in every direction. He’s not sprinting past defenders; he’s neutralizing attackers before they even realize they have options. He’s not scoring, but he’s facilitating, orchestrating the build-up from the back to the front line.
To put it in simpler terms, Rodri became the solution to City’s every question, delivering precise passes under pressure, closing down space with calm authority, and adapting seamlessly to every tactical tweak that came his way. It’s as if he turned every game into a chessboard where he played the grandmaster role—always ten moves ahead.
Then, there’s his performance in the Champions League—a critical factor. This season, Rodri was the spine of City’s Champions League campaign, stepping up in the biggest moments. Remember the way he owned that final against Inter Milan? It wasn’t just a performance; it was a clinic on how to dominate the biggest stage in club football without hogging the limelight.
That is where he beat out Vinicius Jr, who had a stellar season with Real Madrid but couldn’t single-handedly control matches the way Rodri did. In the Champions League, Vinicius was breathtakingly brilliant but sometimes inconsistent in his impact, whereas Rodri brought game-winning consistency and the sense of a rock-solid foundation.
As observers, we often miss the gritty, relentless efforts that don’t make the highlight reels—Rodri’s bread and butter. The Ballon d’Or judges saw the sum of his performances as more than the brilliance of any single goal or match-winning run. He transformed City’s play from the base, cemented their structure, and offered reliability that made the entire team look indestructible.
It wasn’t showmanship that brought home the Ballon d’Or; it was the steely resolve and pinpoint focus that every team, even the star-studded ones, craves.
For Vinicius Jr., it was just a matter of timing. He had all the ingredients for a Ballon d’Or win but was up against a man who gave consistency an entirely new meaning. In the history of the Ballon d’Or, Rodri’s win represents a return to basics: the essence of control and a masterful understanding of what it means to dominate without needing the limelight.
Vinicius will have his moment, without question, but 2024 belonged to Rodri. He proved that sometimes, the unsung hero deserves the standing ovation.
