Rodri wins 2024 Ballon d’Or ahead of Vinicius Jr & Bellingham

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has pipped Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Jr and his teammate Jude Bellingham to the Ballon d’Or award.

He has become the third Spaniard to clinch football’s greatest individual prize and the first since Luis Suarez in 1960.

Only two players have previously won the Ballon d’Or while playing for a Premier League club.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the last when he played for Manchester United in 2008. Liverpool striker Michael Owen won the award in 2001.

Rodri has brought a new dimension to the defensive midfield position.

Besides being one of the best in the world at pinching possession back from opponents and piercing the ball through opposition lines to start attacks, he also has a knack for scoring big goals.

Rodri was influential for Spain as they pipped England to the 2024 European Championship. His outstanding performances earned him the Golden Ball.

However, Vinicius will feel hard done by. He, alongside the entire Real Madrid team, refused to travel for the ceremony.

The 24-year-old spearheaded Los Blancos to the La Liga and Champions League double last term, netting 24 goals and 11 assists. He scored a hat-trick to help beat Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup.

He has been on fire this season, recording eight goals and seven assists, including a hat-trick as Madrid bounced back from two goals down to defeat Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

Detractors will point to his disappointing Copa America performances and his generally poor record for the Brazil national team. But he will feel he did enough to clinch the prize over Rodri, who is sidelined with an injury.

Bellingham was also a worthy candidate for the prize following his remarkable debut campaign for Madrid.

The 21-year-old joined from Borussia Dortmund and registered 23 goals and 13 assists, including a brace on his El Clasico debut against Barcelona.

He was also pivotal as the England national team reached the Euro 2024 final.