Ballon d'Or 2024: The stats justify Man City and Spain lynchpin Rodri's individual triumph

It takes a special kind of player to win the Ballon d'Or as a No.6. Rodri is the first player of his kind to clinch the accolade since Matthias Sammer, who won in 1996 playing for Borussia Dortmund. Still nursing an ACL injury which will keep him out for the season, Rodri’s journey to the podium was slow and deliberate. You can tell he was trying not to let the occasion get to him, but it was. 

His Manchester City teammate, Ruben Dias, handed him his crutches as he made his way up to the podium in Paris. Holding the trophy, his voice slightly cracked. "I never imagined this day would come," he admitted. "It’s not a victory for me but for Spanish football." 

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Rodri winning the Ballon d'Or hasn't gone down well in some quarters, who felt that there were better options. However, Alvaro Morata, Spain's captain, said in the build-up to the award show he thinks he knows why this is. "All he lacks is marketing, social media, that kind of thing. He could easily have won the Ballon d'Or last year." 

Rodri Transfer Value - how much is he worth now?   

According to FootballTransfers' Player Valuation Model, Rodri has a current Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €100.4m, while we have him as being the best Spanish player in the world today. 

He signed for Man City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for €70m. It was at this time that his ETV was just at €30.5m, meaning that the Premier League champions paid double his worth. 

But today it appears as though Manchester City were, in fact, shrewd. They have got more than their money's worth for the 28-year-old, who is also the most valuable Spanish player in the world today according to our metrics. 

What does Rodri bring to the table? 

Morata’s words about Rodri carry a quiet poignancy. Indeed Rodri is not a glamorous name, nor is he the player most fans associate with flair or pizzazz. As the backbone of Manchester City - one of the most polarising clubs in modern football - Rodri lacks the allure of giants like Manchester United or Real Madrid. Perhaps it's fair to presume that Manchester City players feel as though they would snubbed because of this. 

In many ways, Rodri is the antithesis of ‘o jogo bonito’. He seldom draws gasps from the crowd when on the ball, yet his numbers are remarkable. According to WhoScored, last season he led for accurate passes, entries into the final third, and ball recoveries in midfield while boasting an impressive 75% dribble success rate. He narrowly missed being named WhoScored’s Premier League Player of the Season (7.62), an honour that went to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka. 

Brought in as a successor to the tireless Fernandinho, Rodri differs from the Brazilian in stature and style. He has a tall, lean build, broad-shouldered and imposing. His physicality complements Guardiola’s preference for technical skill. His height is an asset, making him invaluable in clearing danger and recovering possession, which allows City to maintain pressure on their opponents. 

Rodri’s expertise in regaining the ball and contributing to the attack is impressive. It contrasts hugely with his more defensive role at Atletico. His understanding of defensive transitions has added a layer of stability for City, especially when facing the threat of counter-attacks after losing possession. He has superior intelligence off the ball and his instincts to anticipate and intercept allow him to press high and aggressively, forcing turnovers in dangerous positions. 

He is the heart of the City team in more ways than one. It was a tricky sort of start to life in England but Rodri is now indispensable to Pep Guardiola’s strategy of dominating the field and keeping hold of the ball for as long as possible. 

"Rodri," Guardiola replied when asked who he thought should win the Ballon d'Or. "Because he’s the best. 

"You tell me this; that’s how I will answer. I always thought the Ballon d’Or was Messi and Cristiano. You still see, the age that they are, Messi scoring three goals for his national team. 

"Rodri. If I could decide, I would say that. I understand that there are other players that can win it. I think the other way is being nominated and being there is already nice."

The midfielder may not be as dazzling as someone like Vinicius Junior, who opted to boycott the awards ceremony after learning he would not win. But Rodri is City's most important player and fundamentally the biggest reason on the field why they were only the second-ever English side to win the treble.

This article was provided by FootballTransfers