Rodri has spoken out about Real Madrid's boycott of the Ballon d'Or event in Paris, following his historic win as the first Premier League player to be awarded the Ballon d'Or since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008.
‘They made their choice. They had their reasons for not attending. I respect that,’ Rodri stated. ‘My focus is on my club, my teammates, and those who are here to celebrate with me. That's all that matters.’
At the official press conference post-ceremony, where he surpassed Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jnr for the prestigious award, the Manchester City player remarked: ‘Winning the Ballon d’Or was never part of my dreams – my aspiration was to play in Spain's top division and in professional football. I never dared to dream of this sort of recognition.
'I was just a boy, watching legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo lift these trophies annually, and all I wanted was to one day play alongside them.
‘I never set out to be a player of this stature. If you view the mountain from the base, it seems impossibly high, but if you set small, achievable goals, you can elevate your game and reach great heights, which is what I believe has happened in my career,’ the 28-year-old continued.
‘Though the Ballon d’Or was not on my radar, in recent years, I have performed exceptionally well, and the voters appreciated my style of play, so I am deeply honored,’ Rodri added.
The Men’s Ballon d’Or is chosen by a panel of football journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA Men’s Rankings.
During the trophy presentation, where George Weah, a 1995 laureate, handed Rodri the award, the Spanish player reflected on a moment in his career at 17 when he thought it was over while at Villarreal.
‘At 17, I left home with my bags for Villarreal to live out my dream,’ he recounted. ‘I called my dad in tears, telling him it was finished, feeling that was the end, but my father told me to keep pushing. That conversation was a turning point for me.'
When asked by Mail Sport about this story, Rodri expanded: ‘When you reach the pinnacle, only you truly understand the journey you've taken.
'I can recall the exact moment when I packed up and left home, and those are the moments that require true resilience.
'At 17, I wasn't performing well, and there was a player (Lamine Yamal) nominated for the Ballon d’Or, while I was struggling in the lower divisions in Spain.
