Rodri makes bold 2025 Ballon d’Or prediction after returning from ACL injury | OneFootball

Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has revealed whom he would like to see follow his footsteps and claim the 2025 Ballon d’Or award.

The 29-year-old enjoyed a splendid 2023-24 campaign for club and country and was awarded for his world-class displays in holding midfield for Manchester City and Spain with the Ballon d’Or trophy for 2024.

Rodri played an instrumental role as Manchester City claimed a fourth successive Premier League title in 2024 and was pivotal to Spain’s European Championship glory last summer, becoming the first player in Manchester City history to win the most highly coveted individual accolade in world football.

City endured a tough 2024-25 season, to say the least, in the absence of the former Atletico Madrid man, finishing third in the Premier League and crashing out of the UEFA Champions League at the Round of 16 stage for only the second time under Pep Guardiola.

Fresh from leading his nation to silverware in Berlin, Rodri’s 2024-25 Premier League campaign met an early finish after the midfielder suffered an ACL rupture in a 2-2 draw against Arsenal in September 2024.

Picking up the Ballon d’Or in Paris in November 2024 on crutches, Rodri paid tribute to his manager, teammates and everyone associated with Manchester City to have guided him on his journey to becoming the greatest midfielder in the world.

After a long-drawn and gruelling campaign that was only made worse by the absence of Rodri, Manchester City welcomed their best player back to the pitch in a 3-1 win over Bournemouth in May.

Rodri has travelled with the Manchester City squad to the United States for the Club World Cup, coming off the bench in his side’s opening two group-stage wins over Wydad AC and Al Ain. Guardiola will be cautious in managing game time for the midfielder, who is still not ready to start.

After being a mere spectator to Manchester City’s evident struggles of last season, Rodri will be hungrier than ever to return to his best as he leads his side to challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title and launch a successful run in the UEFA Champions League.

However, there is little chance of Rodri retaining the Men’s Ballon d’Or trophy when this year’s winner will be announced in the fall, though the Manchester City midfielder has tipped Spain to retain the trophy when the new winner is announced.

“I don’t know. Many, many options. I always raise my players – the Spanish ones,” Rodri said, as quoted by Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports.

“Pedri has been unbelievable, Lamine (Yamal) also, but I don’t know, I’m not the judge. let’s see what happens.”