“He probably won’t win it” - Ex-Chelsea star Craig Burley names his choice for 2024 Ballon d'Or
Football pundit Steve Nicol has backed Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri to win the Ballon d'Or later this year. However, he believes the player will eventually miss out on the award.
While on ESPN, Nicol highlighted how Rodri had been at his best for a long time and deserved to be in the mix. Praising the midfielder, he said:
"Rodri [is my choice for the Ballon d’Or]. He's been terrific for a long time. He probably won't win it. Who puts the goals in is probably going to win it [this year]."
Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. are believed to be the leading candidates for the Ballon d'Or award this year. The Real Madrid stars won the UEFA Champions League and La Liga with the club in the 2023/24 season.
Rodri eyes Ballon d'Or but understands how things work
Rodri spoke to the Daily Mirror earlier this year and admitted that he was not surprised to miss out on the Ballon d'Or top three last year. He claimed that marketing and advertising did more for the award than the performances on the pitch.
He said:
"I am not surprised. This is normal. I understand very well how things work in these individual awards. They are based on marketing, money and advertising. There have been midfielders before who were also Spanish who did not get what they deserved. Do you understand what I mean? (Laughs). What ultimately matters to me in football is what I achieved collectively."
However, he accepted that he was interested in winning the Ballon d'Or this year and said:
"I know legendary midfielders have never achieved it, but I would love for a defensive midfielder like myself to win it. That would mean a lot, both for the recipient and for young players who want to play in that position, so they know they have the right to be recognized, even if they don't score goals or aren't particularly flashy in their game."
Rodri has been backed by Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, while Jan Vertonghen also posted on social media to back the midfielder to win the Ballon d'Or award this year.