But Rodri, the player City coach Pep Guardiola said is “the best midfielder in the world,” finally ended that run with a unique skillset that has made his club the dominant force in England and helped Spain rule Europe again. “Today is not a victory for me, it is for Spanish football, for so many players who have not won it and have deserved it, like (Andres) Iniesta, Xavi (Hernandez), Iker (Casillas), Sergio Busquets, so many others. It is for Spanish football and for the figure of the midfielder,” Rodri said on stage at the ceremony.
“Today many friends have written to me and have told me that football has won, for giving visibility to so many midfielders who have a job in the shadows and today it is coming to light. I’m a regular guy with values, who studies, who tries to do things right and doesn’t try to follow the stereotypes and even so I have been able to get to the top, and it is thanks to all of you.
Rodri became the first defensive midfielder to pick up the Ballon d’Or after an exceptional campaign with Manchester City.”