Inter Milan have one player that could beat Rodri to the Ballon d’Or admits Pep Guardiola

Manchester City’s Rodri could be beaten to this year’s Ballon d’Or award by one of Inter Milan’s star players, Pep Guardiola has admitted.

The Spaniard is one of the clear favourites to claim the illustrious individual prize in the game this autumn, with expected competition from the likes of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham following their respective seasons.

However, the belief in various quarters is that Rodri’s success with both Manchester City and the Spanish national team over the course of last season could make him the first recipient of the Ballon d’Or since Lothar Matthäus.

Such was the intensity of last season for Rodri that Manchester City granted the 28-year-old an extended break from club duties, with the Spaniard expected to be integral once again to their achievements this season.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of Manchester City’s meeting with Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium this week, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on Lautaro Martinez in particular, and whether the Argentine could beat Rodri to the Ballon d’Or.

“Perhaps, why not,” Guardiola responded to questioning from Italian media.

“I would rather a player from our team won that accolade. He (Lautaro Martinez) is a sensational player. He won the World Cup and South American Cup with Argentina. Inter has a lot of good players,” the Manchester City coach continued.

Rodri has received support from a number of high profile figures within the game over his chances of claiming the Ballon d’Or prize later this year, including from the likes of former England manager Fabio Capello, Ruben Dias, and Sergio Gomez.

The former Atletico Madrid midfielder will also have to face competition from his Manchester City teammates if he is to claim the award, most notably from Erling Haaland, who recorded yet another outstanding individual goalscoring season last campaign.