Club insider reveals Lionel Messi text to Rodri after 2024 Ballon d’Or win | OneFootball

Manchester City’s newly-crowned Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has received a personal text message from an all-time great of the sport following the success on Monday night.

The 28-year-old became the first defensive midfielder to be crowned the best footballer on the planet via a Ballon d’Or success since German football legend Lothar Matthaus’ triumph back in 1990.

In defeating the likes of Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham to the prize on Monday night, Rodri also became the first ever Manchester City player to win the Ballon d’Or in a monumental moment for the Premier League champions.

Whilst the entirety of Real Madrid’s delegation opted to boycott the awards ceremony in light of Vinicius Jr’s failure to win the prize, Rodri did receive a text of congratulations from Los Blancos full-back and Ballon d’Or contender Dani Carvajal.

However, arguably the greatest name in the history of the game has since added to the growing list of figures within football to have passed on their congratulations to the Spanish international.

That is according to the information of Manchester City insider ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X, who reports that FC Barcelona and Argentina legend, Lionel Messi has sent a text to Rodri to wish his congratulations to the Spaniard on being named the new best player in the world.

Rodri’s club football coach Pep Guardiola has also issued his best wishes and delight at the midfielder’s success in Paris, telling a media conference earlier this week, “What can I say?! First of course, congratulate him and all his family and dear friends.

“It’s incredible news for him and of course for all of us, for all of Manchester City, our fans – we are SO proud of him! We could never imagine years ago that one player received this prestigious award, we are so delighted to be part of it, to share it with him.

“Hopefully it can give him this energy to recover well for next season to be with us again!”