In the whirlwind of this year Ballon d’Or race, Rodris Victory is the story few expected, but everyone raves about it. While players like Vinicius Jr Impressed by his flair and goalscoring ability, Rodri secured the award because he is the heartbeat of every winning strategy his teams have implemented this year.
It wasn’t about flashy skills, fast sprints or dazzling displays. It was about precision, dominance in midfield and being the unshakeable rock when everyone else faltered.
Rodri’s season was a masterclass in controlling games from the middle, dictating the tempo and making the impossible seem easy. Football fans know these subtler skills don’t grab the headlines, but for players and managers they’re pure gold.
For anyone who watched Vinicius Jr.’s electrifying style – lightning speed, dribbles that leave defenders reeling, and goals that seem to defy logic – the natural question was: How could anyone top that? However, as we peel back the layers of the 2023-2024 season, Rodri’s achievements shine just as clearly.
After all, the Ballon d’Or isn’t just about raw talent; It is a testament to a player’s power, consistency and ability to elevate a team’s game to dizzying new heights. Rodri stood out there.
At Manchester City he was indispensable, a strategic anchor in a team full of attacking firepower, enhancing each other’s performances while ensuring every single game had a polished, controlled feel. When they accepted trophies, he wasn’t just there – he was essential.
Rodri’s case was not based on the classic characteristics of the “best player”, but on the unique qualities that can decide a game without the ball in an instant. Watch any City game and you’ll see Rodri pulling the strings in every direction. He doesn’t sprint past defenders; He neutralizes attackers before they even realize they have options. He doesn’t score, but he facilitates the build-up of the game and orchestrates the build-up from the back row to the front row.
To put it more simply, Rodri became the solution to all of City’s questions, delivering precise passes under pressure, closing down spaces with calm authority and adapting seamlessly to every tactical change that came his way. It’s as if he turned every game into a chessboard on which he played the role of grandmaster – always ten moves ahead.
Then there is his appearance in the Champions League– a critical factor. This season, Rodri has been the backbone of City’s Champions League campaign, stepping up in the biggest moments. Remember how he dominated the final against Inter Milan? It wasn’t just a performance; It was a lesson in how to dominate club football’s biggest stage without stealing the spotlight.
There he beat Vinicius Jr., who had an outstanding season real Madrid but couldn’t control the games single-handedly like Rodri. In the Champions League, Vinicius was breathtakingly brilliant but sometimes inconsistent in his impact, while Rodri brought game-winning consistency and a feeling of rock-solid foundation.
As observers, we often miss the hard, tireless efforts that don’t make it into the highlight reels – Rodri’s bread and butter. The Ballon d’Or jury saw the sum of his achievements as more than just the brilliance of a single goal or a game-winning series. He transformed City’s play from the base, solidifying their structure and providing reliability that made the entire team seem indestructible.
It wasn’t the show that brought home the Ballon d’Or; It was the steely determination and single-minded focus that every team, even the star-studded ones, craves.
For Vinicius Jr., it was just a matter of timing. He had all the makings of a Ballon d’Or win, but met a man who gave consistency a whole new meaning. In the history of the Ballon d’Or, Rodri’s victory represents a return to basics: the essence of control and a masterful understanding of what it means to dominate without needing the spotlight.
Vinicius will undoubtedly have his moment, but 2024 belonged to Rodri. He proved that the unsung hero sometimes deserves a standing ovation.