Ballon d'Or 2024: Rodri aiming to end Spain's 64-year wait for winner

Manchester City midfielder Rodri says it "would be a dream" to become Spain's first Ballon d'Or winner for 64 years.

The defensive midfielder is widely regarded to be one of the favourites to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or after another outstanding season for club and country.

Rodri helped Man City retain their Premier League crown for a fourth consecutive season before playing a starring role in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph – the 28-year-old was named Player of the Tournament following his country's 2-1 win over England in the final.

The Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place at the Theatre du Chatelet on October 28, and Rodri admits he'd take great pride in becoming Spain's first winner of the award since Luis Suarez in 1960.

"Yes, of course it would be a dream for me," Rodri told ESPN. "There are a lot of people who say if Rodri is going to win it, how, for example, did [Andrés] Iniesta or Xavi not win it?

"In part, I agree. They were players who marked an era, some of the best in history, but it is also true that, at the of the end day, they were part of a generation that included [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo].

"But it would be a source of pride for me and for my country to win it. Having a Spanish representative who is capable of winning the Ballon d'Or enriches everyone.

"We all know in Spain, because we just have one winner, that the last one was Luis Suarez many years ago. I didn't watch him of course and don't know much about him, but it's a shock that maybe one of the best countries in history in terms of football doesn't have more players that have won it.

"But football is like this. There have been great players over the years, but I think Spain deserves one because we have some great players that make history with the clubs, history with the countries."

Rodri admitted that even if he doesn't end up winning the award, he still considers himself to have succeeded because there are people who believe he deserves it.

"But imagine for me, to be in the conversation that the people when I walk into the street, they say to me, you going to win the Ballon d'Or, you deserve it.

"And for me, that means I am already a winner with this. The people that believe that I can be the best player in the world and telling me these kind of things, for me is incredible. I never dream about this.

"But once you are in this situation, this position, because a lot of years of work, a lot of trust on yourself and the help of all the people, you think about this award and being there is just unbelievable."

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