Spain's Euro 2024 Triumph Bolsters Case For Spanish Ballon D'Or Winner, Says Rodri

Rodri believes a player from Spain's Euro 2024 winning team should win this year's Ballon d'Or after their victory over England. Rodri, who earned his fourth Player of the Tournament award, was substituted at half-time during the final in Berlin due to an injury.

Mikel Oyarzabal emerged as Spain's hero by scoring late to secure La Roja's fourth European Championship title. This came after Cole Palmer equalised Nico Williams' opening goal. The Manchester City midfielder also played a crucial role in helping Pep Guardiola's team achieve a record fourth consecutive Premier League title before the tournament in Germany.

Rodri's performances on the field have placed him among the favourites for the prestigious award, alongside Real Madrid stars Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham. However, no Spaniard has won the Ballon d'Or since Barcelona's Luis Suarez in 1960, despite La Liga players dominating the award in recent years.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, and Karim Benzema have collectively won the trophy 14 times during their careers in Spain. Messi claimed his eighth Ballon d'Or last year at Inter Miami for his performances at the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.

A timeless tweet: Rodri wins again #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/E2HKsNUcPI

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 14, 2024

Rodri's Perspective

"Spanish football deserves a Ballon d'Or winner," Rodri said. "I'm going to be honest; I would like for a Spaniard to win it; I don't care who. It would be great." When asked about his chances of winning the award, Rodri responded, "I've heard that (Champions League winners Real Madrid's) Dani Carvajal also deserves it. From an individual standpoint, I'm very proud of what I am doing and the recognition I'm getting. But someone else has to make that assessment."

This year’s Ballon d’Or race is highly competitive with several deserving candidates from various leagues. However, Rodri’s exceptional contributions both domestically and internationally make a strong case for him or another Spanish player to be recognised.