• Rodri is widely expected to add a Ballon d’Or podium to his growing list of renowned achievements.
• He dictated almost everything Manchester City and Spain did to win the Premier League and the Euros.
• With Vinicius Junior in contention for a major win on Monday, TUKO.co.ke wonders why Rodri also deserves a shout-out

The last time a defensive player won the Ballon d’Or was 2006.

Virgil Van Dijk was the recent defender to come desperately close to victory when he finished second behind. Lionel Messi in 2019. And five years later, questions will inevitably arise about whether the time is right for a defensive midfielder to take the crown.

If Rodri makes the trip to Paris on Monday night, he will most likely do so on crutches after suffering this season-ending injury.

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The vote for the 2024 award is one of Rodri or Vinicius Junior losing. Many media have already indicated that the latter will be announced as the winner after a brilliant campaign with Real Madrid.

Why Rodri deserves the Ballon d’Or

Much has been said about Vinicius Junior and why he rightly deserves to win, but let me play devil’s advocate and offer a counter-proposal.

To begin with, he is a player who has forgotten how to lose in the colors of Manchester City. And whenever he was away last season, even the tactical genius that is Pep Guardiola couldn’t get his team to function normally.

The Ballon d’Or always places emphasis on individual performances, which is why defenders fly under the radar most of the time. The football mind has been programmed to understand that 20 goals are always better than 20 clean sheets.

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Rodri’s statistics 2023/2024

But even as a defensive player, Rodri intervened with 12 goals and 15 assists, which is ridiculous for a player in his position, no matter how you look at it.

His aforementioned unbeaten run with Manchester City helped Guardiola’s side win a fourth consecutive title. He also only missed the final 45 minutes of Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph. He was named Player of the Tournament, which, again, is impressive for a player in his position.

Vinicius Junior’s run in the round of 16 of the Champions League gives him an advantage over Rodri. But his outing with Brazil in the Copa America will surely make some voters think the opposite.

How are the winners of the Ballon d’Or chosen?

Voters will look at individual contributions, how the contributions helped the team and the fair play of the nominees. The question to be answered on Monday at the Théâtre du Châtelet will be whether Real Madrid, Manchester City and Spain would still have achieved what they did if Vinicius and Rodri were removed from the squads.

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Vinicius Jr’s numbers will play against Rodri

Alba Reinadojournalist based in Spain and responsible for communications in Cádiz, is delighted at the idea of ​​a Spanish player winning the prize, but he is not getting carried away.

“It is true that as a Spaniard I would like to see a player like Rodri receive the Ballon d’Or. But it is also true that Vinicius’ form and everything he achieves puts him at the top of the list to win the Ballon d’Or,” he said. TUKO.co.ke.

Reinado admits that Vinicius’ position and superior numbers could end up being divisive for him.

“I’m not a huge fan of his performance, but the numbers don’t lie, and he is currently the deserving winner of this award.”

No one can argue that Vinicius Junior deserves it, but after the kind of season Rodri had, what else can a player do in his position?

Source: TUKO.co.ke