Man City's Pep Guardiola backs Rodri to win Ballon d'Or 2024

The Spanish player is one of the favourites to win the award.

Pep Guardiola, the head coach of Manchester City, has endorsed midfielder Rodri as the winner of the coveted 2024 Ballon d’Or award. Guardiola maintains that his countryman is only “the best” and thinks the former Atletico Madrid star can overtake Lionel Messi as the greatest men’s player in the world. On Monday, October 28, the Ballon d’Or will be presented in Paris.

When asked who he thinks should win the Ballon d’Or, Pep Guardiola responded curtly but firmly: his own midfielder, Rodri.

When deciding who should receive the most coveted individual accolade in the world, the Manchester City manager stated that the Spaniard is “the best” and that this was the only factor that counted.

Along with fellow City players Phil Foden and Erling Haaland, Rodri is on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, which will be given out in Paris on Monday.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have a combined total of 13 “Golden Balls,” are not on the list for the first time since 2006.

Guardiola was straightforward in his explanation of why he believed Rodri should win the top trophy in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports prior to City’s UEFA Champions League match against Sparta Prague.

When asked who he believed should win the award for being the world’s top men’s player, Guardiola responded, “Rodri.”

“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.”

Due to a meniscus and ligament injury he suffered against Arsenal in September, the Spanish midfielder will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season for Man City.

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