Pep Guardiola: No Elite Group Decides Manchester City’s Rodri Should Win Ballon d’Or

Pep Guardiola insisted on Tuesday that Rodri was a worthy winner of the Ballon d’Or, insisting no “elite group” had decided the Manchester City midfielder should be crowned the world’s best footballer.

Vinicius Junior, the La Liga and Champions League double-winner with Real Madrid, was a strong contender for the trophy.

But hours before Monday’s awards ceremony in Paris, the Spanish giants announced its delegation would not attend because of what it perceived as a snub of Vinicius.

Rodri received the trophy after helping City win a fourth consecutive Premier League title and also starring in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph.

City manager Guardiola expressed his delight at Rodri’s success during a press conference on Tuesday, ahead of his team’s League Cup match against Tottenham.

“What can I say?,” said the Spaniard. “First, to congratulate him and all his family and their friends, it’s incredible news for him and all of us.”

Rodri suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September, ruling him out for the season.

Guardiola added, “Us at Manchester City are so proud of him. We are so proud to share it with him, and hopefully, it can give him the energy to recover well for next season.”

As for Real’s decision to boycott the awards ceremony, even though they were named men’s team of the year, Guardiola said, “It’s up to them. If they want to congratulate you, that’s fine. If not, that’s fine. Last season, Erling (Haaland) won the treble with more than 50 goals.

“I said to him that just being there, he should be so, so happy, and I said the same to Rodri.

“Last season, Erling should win, yes. Should (eventual winner Lionel) Messi have won? Yes. It doesn’t matter.

“Should it be Vinicius? Maybe. It’s not an elite group, it’s journalists who vote.

“In the last decade, Spanish football has made such a difference, won a World Cup, Euros, and (Spanish players) weren’t able to win this award,” added the former Barcelona player and manager.

The winners of the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or are selected from a shortlist by an international jury comprising 100 specialist journalists.

The organizers, the Amaury group, which owns the L’Equipe sports daily and France Football magazine, insisted that “no player or club” knew in advance who had won.