2023-06-19 14:27:16
What if a surprise guest won the 2023 Ballon d’Or? Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, all three styled by… Rodri? The Spanish midfielder from Manchester City (26) is in any case acclaimed by the press of his country to become the second Iberian consecrated after Luis Suarez in 1960.
The Madrid newspaper As headlines: “Rodri on the way to the Ballon d’Or”. The native Madrid player, trained at Atlético then Villarreal, does indeed have solid arguments. No one has won as many titles as him this season, and since 2022 and Karim Benzema’s victory, the trophy rewards performance over the season and no longer over the calendar year, Rodri appears to be a credible candidate.
The midfielder not only took part in Manchester City’s historic treble (Champions League-Premier League-FA Cup), but he also scored in the Champions League final against Inter Milan, and he won the title of best player of the competition. Rodri was also instrumental in Spain’s Nations League crowning, where he was voted the best player of the finals.
“In terms of football maturity, titles won, I am surely living my best period,” Rodri said on Saturday on the eve of the final against Croatia. It’s a moment that I want to extend and a trophy would crown a very special season for me. The Golden Ball ? It would be something great, incredible, but I’m not thinking of individual titles. The important thing is the group. To be honest, I work for it. »
Remains a downside, and size. Spain were eliminated on penalties by Morocco in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar on December 6, depriving Rodri of a great individual performance in football’s premier competition.
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