"I'm a little boy looking at this trophy..."

Original article from France Football, published in 2024.

First off, Rodri, congratulations on your France Football Ballon d'Or. Last March, you told us how proud you were to finish fifth in the previous vote. Seven months later, you're number one. How does it feel?

It was already a huge deal to be on the previous list and finish fifth. That was my first ceremony, and I thought it might be my only one. The season had been nearly perfect—I had won almost everything (Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup)—and in those moments, you can't help but think it might be the absolute peak of your career. I know what it took to reach that level, and naturally, you wonder if you can ever do it again.

This season, I maintained the same rhythm but with even more impact in the final third (12 goals and 14 assists in all competitions, compared to 4 and 9 in 2022-2023). I only lost one match (the 2-1 FA Cup final loss to Manchester United, though we were also eliminated by Real Madrid in the Champions League on penalties). After winning the Euros with Spain and being named player of the tournament, I finally felt I had proven I could consistently perform at the highest level. To be chosen from among so many immense players today is just incredible.

What was going through your mind just before George Weah opened the envelope with the 2024 winner's name?

So many things were racing through my head. Unlike last year, I knew I had a real chance this time, and I was hoping to hear my name. It was also a strange moment because a part of the audience was chanting another name (Vinicius Jr.). When I heard George Weah say my name, I just put my face in my hands. I couldn't believe it. I looked at my family, my friends, my teammates, and then I tried my best to get to the stage on my crutches.

In those final seconds, were you afraid you might not win?

No, I didn't feel any fear of losing. In my view, an individual trophy is always a gain, a reward—it's always positive. You can't be sad about not winning an individual award because it's a decision that isn't yours; it's the result of a vote. It's human to seek recognition for your work, but that recognition has to start with myself. I evaluate my own progress and performance, and I'm able to be proud of what I achieve.

On stage, you seemed more emotional than most winners we've seen...

When I received the Ballon d'Or, I held it close, almost like a baby. In that moment, my entire journey flashed before my eyes, from childhood to now: the good times, the tougher periods, the moments when nobody believed in me, when you feel alone... And there I was, with this trophy, on top of the world. This Ballon d'Or comes from a very long way back; only I know the full path I've traveled. It's the result of a very long road. Those first ten or fifteen seconds on stage holding the trophy are for you, for eternity. And then, to be honest, you have to catch your breath and overcome the fear of speaking out loud when the whole world is watching. After that, you turn and thank the people who accompanied you on that journey. I wanted my thank-you speech to be spontaneous; I didn't want to prepare anything. A moment like that has to come from the heart.

For a long time, the rumors pointed to Vinicius Jr. as the winner. Given your injury, did you ever hesitate to attend the ceremony?

No, not at all. When your value is recognized at such a high level, whether you win or not, it's important to be there. The collective aspect is also very important to me. For example, last year, Erling (Haaland) was in a much better position to win than I was. I wanted to be there to support him in what is a very special moment. Knowing how to win, but also how to lose, is important. And this year, with my long-term injury and rehabilitation, this event was like a breath of fresh air. So, when I decided to come, it was primarily to enjoy a wonderful evening. And then, all of a sudden, everything accelerated and became crazy. (Smiles.)

Let's be clear: did you know you were the winner before the announcement?

Oh no, not at all. I was actually surprised that everyone kept asking me that.

The newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner has revealed the whirlwind of emotions he experienced on the day of the ceremony, admitting he only began to suspect he might win after landing in Paris.

"No one ever told me anything before the ceremony," he explained. "I knew for a long time that this would be the rule this year. And it worked, because the winner didn't know until the very end. In my opinion, this decision to keep everything under wraps is an excellent thing."

The player described the dramatic turn of events during his flight from Madrid to Paris. "To be precise, around midday as we were about to board, we received several messages from friends saying that Real Madrid wouldn't be coming. My first reaction was: I don't believe it, it's just fake news."

"When we landed in Paris, even more messages were congratulating me. That's when I started to think, 'Wow!' I took a flight just to attend the ceremony and landed almost as the winner," he said with a laugh. "It was too much of a rollercoaster for a single Madrid-Paris flight, so I said, 'Let's stop listening to all this, let's go enjoy the evening, and we'll see what happens.' But it was tough."

Absences and Celebrations

When asked if the controversy and absence of other top players, including representatives from Real Madrid, had stolen some of his moment, the winner was philosophical.

"What can I say? Would I have preferred everyone to be there? Of course. The second, third, and fourth-place finishers were missing. We all want the best players on the planet at an event like this," he stated. "The best team of the year, Real Madrid, didn't come to the ceremony, despite having the best coach, Carlo Ancelotti, and the joint top scorer, Kylian Mbappé. I have to respect everyone's decision, even if I wouldn't have done the same. But they do what they want."

He insisted, however, that he felt no bitterness. "Honestly? Not at all. It was my moment. I was more focused on taking care of my loved ones who were there, not those who were absent."

Following the media obligations, the celebration was a private affair. "We went straight to my favorite restaurant in Paris, the one we had booked last year as well. It was magnificent—laughing, singing, it was really great. The people who are part of my life celebrating with those who share my work, for one of the best moments of my life. What more could you ask for?"

A Flood of Messages and Esteemed Company

The player revealed he was inundated with well-wishes, receiving over 700 messages. "I had barely finished replying to everyone who wished me a speedy recovery, and boom, another 700 messages, this time congratulations!" he laughed. "I'm back to spending two or three months replying to everyone."

"I have to say, I did take the time to reply to some right away, like Andrés Iniesta. He was the very first one I responded to. Imagine, in my opinion, he's the greatest Spanish player of all time and deserved a Ballon d'Or. What an honor for me!"

Reflecting on his place among the award's legendary winners, he joked about being the first in the post-Messi-Ronaldo era. "But when I look at that incredible list of winners, I have to talk about Messi. Eight-time winner... Seriously... I don't even know if he could keep count at the end. He's the greatest player of all time."

However, he noted that he hadn't received congratulations from some recent winners. "Let me see... No Messi, no Cristiano, no Modrić, no Benzema," he said with a laugh.

Regarding Karim Benzema's recent comment that he preferred watching Vinícius Jr., the player was unfazed. "No, no. It's his opinion; he has the right to think that. I can't expect to please everyone. I pleased a jury of one hundred voters, which is pretty good. I also heard Paul Scholes say the opposite, that he found my game beautiful and intelligent. Coming from a midfielder like him, that means something to me."

He concluded by reflecting on what his victory represents for the sport. "You have to see it as another aspect of football being rewarded. It may not be as spectacular as goals, dribbles, or one-on-ones."

A Victory for the 'Engine Room'

When asked what his friends meant by calling his win "good news for football," the Spanish midfielder explained it was a recognition of the often-overlooked aspects of the game.

"It's about being in the engine room: controlling the game for ninety minutes, not just in a single moment," he said. "It's about being the guarantor of the coach's instructions on the pitch, attacking and defending, organizing play, balancing the team, and giving it personality. That's the perspective my friends wanted to highlight."

He elaborated on a previous statement that a defensive midfielder winning the award would be a positive message for younger players.

"It simply shows them that football is much more than just scoring goals," he explained. "It can encourage kids to also be eminently collective players without thinking they'll always remain in the shadows or miss out on the recognition they hope for. Someone like Dani Carvajal could very well have won the Ballon d'Or. He deserved it too, especially since he manages to impact the game from a full-back position, which theoretically offers fewer opportunities than a midfielder like me."

On Media, Recognition, and Social Media

Addressing the fact that Spanish media seemed to champion Vinícius Jr.'s candidacy over his own or Carvajal's, he laughed, "Welcome to Spain! Perhaps it comes from the fact that there's more of a club culture than a national team one. But I agree, when you have two players from the national team in the running, it seems logical to support them. Maybe it's different elsewhere, I don't know. I remember last year when Kylian (Mbappé) entered the Théâtre du Châtelet, there was an impressive roar from the French crowd."

Despite his absence from all social media platforms, the midfielder feels he has a grasp on the magnitude of his achievement. He shared an anecdote about his teammates' predictions.

"It's funny because my teammates told me a while ago: 'Rodri, you deserve this individual award, but because you're not on social media, you won't win.' I told them, 'Yes, maybe, but that's just who I am.' And I won," he recounted. "I know how it works; to get these individual awards, you need that little marketing edge, that extra bit of communication, image, and popularity. I know I don't have all that compared to some others."

"I am recognized for my values, my behavior—normal things, really, but things few people pay attention to. Although attitude and behavior are part of the voting criteria. I don't do it to build an image; it's just me. I like being a good guy, a good teammate. And I want to believe these are things appreciated by the majority. Look at Iniesta; he was applauded in every stadium in Spain, which is no small feat."

The 'Special' Quality of Consistency

When asked what makes him a special player worthy of the Ballon d'Or, he offered a candid self-assessment.

"That's a good question because, if you look closely, I'm not the fastest, not the most technically gifted, I don't have the best pass in the world, etc. But I am special in my understanding of the game," he stated. "I constantly understand where I can be most effective and where I can contribute most to my team. Knowing when to push forward with my teammates, when to hold back and cover, when to speed up and when to slow down, how to stop the opponent's attack, and how to make a tactical foul at the right moment."

"Above all, I draw my strength from my consistency," he continued. "Not yo-yoing between a 9/10 and a 3/10, but always being at a 7 minimum without dropping. That's a strength you have to build daily, always being mentally present to maintain a certain level in every moment of every match. That permanence is the hardest thing to achieve in football. That's why I consider Messi and Cristiano the greatest, because no one has maintained that excellence match after match for fifteen years. No one. For me, at my level, this demand allowed me to remain unbeaten for 73 consecutive matches (for club and country from March 2023 to May 2024). When you know how tough every single match is..."

However, he dismissed any feeling of invincibility from that incredible run. "No, no. When I started at Villarreal, we might lose one out of every two games. Then at Atlético, a bit less. And then I arrived at Manchester City, which was already a machine. I brought myself up to the level of this already incredible team. Every week: win, win, win. Or at least don't lose. It demands such a high standard at all times; people don't realize it."

As for a congratulatory message from his manager, Pep Guardiola? "No, not yet," he said. "But he's like many people who know I'm flooded with messages and will send one a little later."

Manchester City's midfield anchor, Rodri, opened up about his evolution as a player, his relationship with Pep Guardiola, and the historic significance of his Ballon d'Or win.

On Individual Trophies and Guardiola's Influence

When asked about his manager's apparent disdain for individual awards, Rodri was quick to agree. "One hundred percent," he laughed. "He even told me once that a good defensive midfielder doesn't show up in the highlights."

"But I'm sure that if I had remained the traditional defensive midfielder I was a few years ago, I wouldn't have won this award," he continued. "You need to make your influence more visible with an impact in the final third. It's not something that's asked of me, but something I seek out myself to bring more to my team. The game's evolution demands it."

Rodri sees himself as a product of this modern era. "Today's midfielders are increasingly vertical, more incisive, and they cause more damage. In a way, I'm the modern version of Busquets. Especially since I play for a club that puts immense pressure on opponents, who often drop very deep. If they see City's midfielders making secondary runs behind Erling Haaland, they don't know what to do: sit deep to block Haaland, or push up to stop the midfielders?"

A Shared Victory

Does he consider it Pep Guardiola's Ballon d'Or as well? "It's the Ballon d'Or for everyone involved in my teams," Rodri asserted. "It's the result of our victories in recent seasons, and that's why I don't want to forget anyone by focusing on one person over others. This is especially true for me because a midfielder like me can only hope to be recognized if his team wins a lot of trophies. That's how I see football."

"As for Pep, he's the best," he added. "He has been my mentor in helping me become the best version of myself."

Despite reaching the pinnacle of the sport, Rodri believes he can still improve. "I know what I had to do to progress, from the time at Atlético where I mainly had to hold my position, to being more versatile at City. But I know I can still do better at managing my emotions, especially when we're trailing. I can have a bad temper... I still need to keep a cooler head."

City vs. Spain: A Tale of Two Roles

The midfielder also highlighted the differences between his role for his club and his country. "I see City as a more mature unit, with players who know exactly how to handle situations. So, my leadership role is more limited to the pitch. With the national team, we have less experienced players, and there, along with other senior figures like Carvajal or Morata, I have to guide them more, be more like a father figure."

"I'm lucky that both teams have a similar philosophy," he explained. "Some players find themselves in a national team with a style completely opposite to their club's. For example, my Portuguese teammates tell me they play a completely different way with their national team. But let's just say that at City, I probably have more freedom to get forward, whereas with the national team, I have to be more conservative in my positioning."

Making History for Club and Country

As the sole goalscorer in Manchester City's first Champions League final victory and now the club's first Ballon d'Or winner, Rodri reflected on his unexpected place in history. "No, obviously not. And I never played with that goal in mind; it just happened naturally. It's so crazy when I think about the players City has had and still has. Some of them, like David Silva, I was watching on TV when I was maybe twelve years old. And today, we have Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and so many others... Yes, it's crazy."

He is also only the third Spanish player to win the award, and the first since Luis Suárez in 1960. "Phew... Spain outrageously dominated world football for a long time and had the best league for many years," he mused. "Xavi and Iniesta came so close. In my opinion, they were the best midfielders in history, playing for two of the most dominant teams of all time, Spain and Barça. We used to wonder, 'If these guys didn't win it, who will?'"

"I obviously don't want to compare myself to those two champions or position myself as their heir, especially since these are different eras. I admit I'm not yet able to put my Ballon d'Or into perspective in that context. Maybe in ten or twenty years, I'll better understand what it represents in history. Today, I'm just a little boy looking at this Ballon d'Or," he said, glancing at the trophy on the table, "and asking myself, 'What did I do?'"

You often say that football hasn't changed you as a person. But can a Ballon d'Or change you?

My friends will make sure it doesn't. (Laughs.) They've already warned me that just because I'm the Ballon d'Or winner, it won't change anything about our jokes or our holiday plans. (Laughs.)

More seriously, the people around me have always made sure I don't get too high after a win or too low after a loss. This ability to stay level-headed through good times and bad has helped me build real confidence. Not too much, just the right amount. I'm the same person I was before winning this trophy. If anything, it's how others see me that might change, because I've won the most prestigious individual award in football. For me, maybe it will help in more difficult moments, when I can tell myself, "Hey, don't forget you were the Ballon d'Or winner!"

RODRIGO HERNANDEZ CASCANTE, "RODRI" Age: 28 (Born June 22, 1996, in Madrid, Spain) Position: Midfielder International: Spain (48 caps, 1 goal) Club Career: Villarreal (2015-2018), Atlético de Madrid (2018-2019), Manchester City (July 2019-present) 2023-2024 Season: 63 matches, 12 goals, 14 assists, 15 yellow cards, 1 red card Major Honours: Ballon d'Or (2024), UEFA Euro (2024), UEFA Nations League (2023), FIFA Club World Cup (2023), UEFA Super Cup (2018, 2023), UEFA Champions League (2023), Premier League (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), FA Community Shield (2019), FA Cup (2023), League Cup (2020, 2021)