Former Spanish central defender Cesar Navas expressed his thoughts on Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder and Spanish national team player, winning the Ballon d'Or.
All of Spain is very happy that Aitana and Rodri have won the Ballon d'Or. It's a great sign that Spanish football is at the top. The country is proud of them! I believe Rodri is undoubtedly the best defensive midfielder in the world. He performs at a level worthy of winning the Ballon d'Or. An incredible player! In my opinion, Carvajal also deserved this award. He has been the best defender in the world for several seasons. Last season, he won the Champions League, scored in the final, and won the European Championship. In my opinion, Carvajal deserved the win.
"I find it inappropriate to give individual awards in a team sport where success belongs to the team. That said, when the best players are recognized, it would be fairer to award players by position. They should awards the best players in each position," Navas stated for Championat.
Rodri won the vote over Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and others. Among women, the award was won by Aitana Bonmati, midfielder for Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
In the last season, Rodri scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists across all competitions. He also won the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, and Euro 2024, where he served as captain of Luis de la Fuente's team.
