Rodri: "Spanish players couldn't win the Ballon d'Or during their best years because of Ronaldo and Messi"
Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has expressed his desire for a Spanish player to win the Ballon d'Or this year.
"After winning Euro 2024, I said that I would like a Spanish footballer to receive the Ballon d'Or. Spanish football truly deserves it. We have earned it over the years. We had the most successful period in our history, but we couldn't claim the Ballon d'Or because of two giants — Ronaldo and Messi. It's hard to argue they weren't the best because they really were the best. Now, we have fantastic players, and we're playing at a high level. Spain deserves such recognition," Rodri told the BBC.
Earlier, France Football released the 30-man shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, which includes six Spaniards: Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, Dani Carvajal, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Alejandro Grimaldo.
