Rodri says he was 'surprised' by criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo for winning the Ballon d'Or.
Rodri won the award last October for his role in helping Manchester City win the English Premier League and Spain the European Championship.
The decision sparked a strong reaction from Real Madrid, which boycotted the awards ceremony in protest at Rodri receiving the trophy at the expense of Vinicius Junior. Ronaldo, who spoke at the Globe Soccer Awards earlier this month, also believed the Brazilian winger had been dealt a harsh blow. .
Ronaldo said: “Vinicius Junior should have won the Ballon d'Or, in my opinion it was clear.
“It was unfair. That's why I love the Globe Soccer Awards, they're honest.
Rodri at the Ballon d'Or reception #ManCity“I was talking to Kovacic: he witnessed the Ballon d'Or parties in Madrid, but he told me he had never seen anything like this before. Very few places treat players the way City does. I will be forever grateful for what they did! 🥰 pic.twitter.com/PN75vhxjGN
– City Report (@cityreport_) January 1, 2025
Ronaldo should know better – Rodri
Rodri believes that Ronaldo, as a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, should have a better understanding of how the award is determined.
In an interview with Spanish newspaper AS, the midfielder said: “Well, it was really a surprise, because he knows better than anyone else how this award works and, above all, how the winner is chosen.
“This year, the journalists who voted decided I should win it.
“It is likely that these same journalists were the ones who at one point voted for him to win the award, and I imagine he would have agreed then.”
Rhodri admits that winning the award changed his life.
He added: Maybe I didn't know it when I won it but yes, it changed my life.
“A lot of things that I could have done before, now, obviously not. But it's for a good reason, because of this recognition that I've had that was very important to me and my family. It's an unforgettable moment.”
Recovery is going well
Rodri is currently sidelined after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament against Arsenal, but he remains confident of playing again this season.
“Psychologically, (it's going) a lot better than I thought it would. It's what I imagined in terms of pain,” he said.
“The first month was very complicated, but mentally things are going better than I thought.
“I know myself, I am a person who recovers well, a person with a positive mentality. Everything is going very well. Of course I want to play again this season.”
City have struggled without him. Sunday's win over Leicester was only their second in 14 matches in all competitions and ranks sixth in the Premier League.
Don't panic – Rhodri
Rodri believes that such stagnation is inevitable after long periods of success, and does not believe it is time to panic.
He said: “It is a time when the team must be united. I know we are going through a bad moment, a time that may be difficult for us to understand and not feel well, but in the end this is part of the sport. You have to wake up.
“The good thing is that there is time during the rest of the season. Football changes. I don't think this moment is so important in the end, neither for good nor for bad. You go through phases throughout the year. The seasons are now longer and maturity and calmness are important.
“Obviously you don't have to relax or think that this will change overnight. That doesn't happen in football. You have to improve gradually. I would say we are in a bit of a borderline situation. You have to try to win, but not panic.”
