Guardiola hails Rodri's Ballon d'Or success, says no 'elite group' was involved in helping Man City star win award

Pep Guardiola dismissed talks of an “elite group” helping Manchester City’s Rodri win the Ballon d’Or this year, adding that the Spanish midfielder deserved to win the prestigious award. Rodri beating Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, who was considered a strong favourite for the award this year, was met with outrage Real Madrid with the reigning European champions boycotting the awards ceremony in protest.

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Rodri, 28, not only helped City win the Premier League for the fourth consecutive time, he also starred in Spain’s triumphant Euro campaign, which ended with a 2-1 victory over England in the final. He has, however, been ruled out of the current season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September.

City manager Guardiola expressed delight over a member of his team winning the award ahead of the League Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur.

“What can I say? First, to congratulate him and all his family and their friends, it’s incredible news for him and for all of us,” Guardiola told reporters during the pre-match press conference.

“Us at Manchester City are so proud of him. We are so proud to share it with him and hopefully, it can give him energy to recover well for next season,” added the former Spain and Barcelona midfielder.

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Madrid chose to boycott this year’s Ballon d’Or despite being named men’s team of the year, with Carlo Ancelotti also being named men’s coach of the year.

Guardiola, however, added that City striker Erling Haaland deserved to win the award last year, but was happy for Lionel Messi regardless, with the latter winning it for a record-extending eighth time.

“It’s up to them. If they want to congratulate, that’s fine. If not, that’s fine. Last season, Erling (Haaland) won the treble, more than 50 goals. I said to him just being there he should be so, so happy and I said the same to Rodri.

“Last season, Erling should win, yes. Should (eventual winner Lionel) Messi have won? Yes. It doesn’t matter,” Guardiola said.

“Should it be Vinicius? Maybe. It’s not an elite group, it’s journalists who vote.

“In the last decade, Spanish football has made such a difference, won a World Cup, Euros, and (Spanish players) weren’t able to win this award,” added the former Barcelona manager.

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The men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or winners, the latter going to Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati, were chosen by an international jury of 100 specialist journalists.

The men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or winners are chosen from the shortlist by an international jury of 100 specialist journalists. The Amaury group which owns the L’Equipe sports daily and France Football magazine and organises the awards on an annual basis, insisted “no player or club” had any prior knowledge of the winners’ list.