Rodri says he was “surprised” that his Ballon d’Or success was criticized by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Rodri won the award in October for his contribution to helping Manchester City win the Premier League and Spain to the European Championships.
The decision sparked a strong reaction from Real Madrid, who boycotted the awards ceremony to protest the fact that Rodri received the trophy before Vinicius Jr., and so did Ronaldo, who spoke at the Globe Soccer Awards earlier this month felt the Brazilian winger was hit hard.
Ronaldo said: “Vinicius Jr should have won the Ballon d’Or, in my opinion it was clear.
“It was unfair. That’s why I love the Globe Soccer Awards, they’re honest.”
Rodri at his Ballon d’Or reception #ManCity: “I spoke to Kovacic: he experienced Ballon d’Or parties in Madrid, but he told me that he had never seen anything like that. Very few places treat players the way City does. I will be ETERNALLY THANKFUL for what they did!” 🥰 pic.twitter.com/PN75vhxjGN
— City Report (@cityreport_) January 1, 2025
Ronaldo should know better – Rodri
Rodri believes that as a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo should have a better understanding of how the award is decided.
In an interview with Spanish newspaper AS, the midfielder said: “Well, it was really a surprise because he knows better than anyone how this award works and, above all, how the winner is chosen.”
“This year the journalists who vote decided that I should win.
“It was probably the same journalists who voted for him to win at some point, and I imagine he would have agreed then.”
Rodri admits that winning the prize changed his life.
He added: “Maybe I didn’t know when I won but yeah, it changed my life.
“A lot of things that I could do before are obviously no longer possible now. But it’s for a good reason, it’s because of the recognition I received that was so important to me and my family. It’s an unforgettable moment.”
Recovery is going well
Rodri is currently sidelined after tearing his cruciate ligament against Arsenal, but he remains confident of being able to play again this season.
“Psychologically speaking, things are going much better than I thought. It’s what I imagined in terms of pain,” he said.
“The first month was very complicated, but on a mental level things are going better than I thought.
“I know myself, I am a person who recovers well, a person with a positive mentality. Everything is going very well. Of course I want to play again this season.”
City struggled without him. Sunday’s win at Leicester was just their second in 14 games in all competitions and they sit sixth in the Premier League.
Don’t panic – Rodri
Rodri believes such dips are inevitable after long periods of success and doesn’t think it’s time to panic.
He said: “It is a time when the team needs to be united. I know we are in a bad time, a time that may be difficult for us to understand and in which we are not doing well, but at the end of the day that is part of the sport. You have to get up.
“The good thing is that we have time for the rest of the season. Football is changing. I don’t think this moment is very significant in the end, either good or bad. They go through phases throughout the year. The seasons are longer now and maturity and rest are important.
“Of course you don’t have to relax or think that things will change overnight. That doesn’t happen in football. Things have to get better gradually. We are in a situation that is, I would say, a little borderline. You have to try to win, but without panicking.”
