Rodri wins Ballon d'Or: Ilkay Gundogan, Txiki Begiristain praise "perfect" Man City midfielder

Rodri was announced as the 68th winner of football's most prestigious individual award at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday night, making him the first Man City player to ever receive the accolade.

The 28-year-old was presented with his award on a night when Real Madrid astonishingly boycotted the ceremony in protest after hearing reports that runner-up Vinicius Junior would not win the top prize.

Rodri, who claims "football has won" following his Ballon d'Or victory, has established himself an integral part of Pep Guardiola's relentless Man City squad in recent seasons and has pipped Vinicius Junior to this year's Ballon d'Or having been recognised by a panel of journalists from the 100 top-ranking nations for his hugely influential performances for club and country in 2023-24.

After helping Man City win an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title, as well as the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, the Spain international was named Player of the Tournament following a triumphant Euro 2024 campaign.

Gundogan: 'No one plays Rodri's position better than he does'

Gundogan, who re-joined Man City in the summer, was quick to praise Rodri for his Ballon d'Or victory on X, posting: "From today on he is finally not 'underrated' anymore.

"Congratulations to my teammate Rodri on winning the Ballon d'Or! For me this is very well deserved!

"I'm especially happy that someone in a defensive position is winning this title and not always just the offensive players!

"Rodri is the perfect midfielder and there's no one that plays his position better than he does - there are so many clubs in Europe that are looking for a world class holding midfielder, but in the end there's only him! What a development in recent years!"

Man City's outgoing director of football Txiki Begiristain, who contributed to the signing of Rodri from Atletico Madrid in 2019, told the club's official website: "Everyone at Manchester City will quite rightly feel very proud tonight. Rodri is our first-ever winner of this award, and he totally deserves that honour.

Begiristain: 'Rodri is a perfect professional, totally deserves Ballon d'Or'

"He is a player completely without ego, whose performance level over a very long period of time has been exceptional. The consistency he has shown is the result of hard work and dedication.

"He is a perfect professional, a person who approaches every single training session with the right attitude. He wants to be the best and he is prepared to make the necessary sacrifices to make that a reality.

"The club is also proud to have had so many other players shortlisted for this award. To have so many players in contention for this prize is further evidence we are living through an incredible period in Manchester City's history."

Rodri, who finished fifth at the 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony, contributed with 12 goals and 13 assists in 58 appearances for club and country last season, including a career-best nine goals for Man City, and impressively lost just one game in the process.

The defensive midfielder has become the first Spanish player in over 60 years to win the Ballon d'Or and just the third Spaniard in history to claim the men's prize after Alfredo Di Stefano (1957 and 1959) and Luis Suarez (1960).