Manchester City star Rodri has shared the moment he discovered he won the prestigious Ballon d’Or, revealing that he initially thought the news about Real Madrid’s boycott was “fake news.”
Rodri, who played a key role in Manchester City’s fourth consecutive Premier League title and Spain’s victory in the 2024 European Championship, became the first midfielder since Luka Modric to win the award.
His selection over Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior caused a stir in the football world, with Real Madrid even boycotting the award ceremony in Paris when they learned Vinicius would not win.
In an interview with L’Equipe, Rodri explained that he had no idea he would be named the winner. “I was surprised that everyone was asking me about it. No one had told me anything before the ceremony,” he said.
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“I knew it was going to be a close race, but I didn’t know who would win. I think keeping the winner a secret until the last moment is a great idea.”
Rodri went on to reveal that it wasn’t until midday, just before he boarded the plane to Paris, that he heard rumors about Real Madrid’s boycott.
“My first reaction was: I don’t believe it, it’s fake news,” he said. “When I landed in Paris, I received more congratulatory messages. That’s when I started to think, wow, maybe I’m really in the running for this award.”
Despite the excitement, Rodri admitted that the buildup to the ceremony was overwhelming. “It was like a rollercoaster ride just because of the flight from Madrid to Paris,” he said. “I told myself to stop worrying and just enjoy the evening, but it was tough.”
Unfortunately, Rodri’s celebration was short-lived, as he is now sidelined with an ACL injury sustained during a Premier League match against Arsenal. He is expected to miss a significant part of the 2024-25 season, though Manchester City will return to action on November 23 against Tottenham Hotspur after the international break.
