Manchester City midfielder, Rodri has revealed that he did not receive a congratulatory message from several notable players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Karim Benzema, following his Ballon d’Or victory.
Rodri also mentioned that Luka Modric, a former winner of the award, did not extend his congratulations either.
Recall that the Spain international won the 2024 Ballon d’Or at the Théâtre du Châtelet on October 28, ahead of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.
Weeks After the award, Rodri expressed surprise that none of the recent Ballon d’Or winners reached out to him, including Messi and Ronaldo, who have historically dominated the award with 13 wins between them.
In a lighthearted moment, Rodri shared with Diario AS (via @MadridXtra on X), “Messages from previous Ballon d’Or winners? Let me check… There are none from Messi, Cristiano, Modrić or Benzema (laughs).”
Meanwhile, Rodri has identified Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah as his toughest opponent in the Premier League.
He drew a comparison between Salah and Messi, acknowledging the challenges he faced when competing against them.
When asked by a Spanish reporter about the most difficult player he has faced, Rodri stated, “I’d say Leo (Messi), and in the Premier League, Salah in his prime. Playing at Anfield is incredibly challenging; it feels like a knife.”
