Guardiola: No 'elite group' dictated Rodri's Ballon d'Or win

Pep Guardiola insisted Tuesday that Rodri was a worthy winner of the Ballon d’Or, insisting no “elite group” had determined the Manchester Metropolis midfielder needs to be topped the world’s finest footballer.

Actual Madrid’s Liga and Champions League double winner Vinicius Junior had been the favorite to gather the trophy.

However hours earlier than Monday’s awards ceremony in Paris, the Spanish giants introduced its delegation wouldn’t attend due to what it perceived as a snub of Vinicius.

Rodri, 28, acquired the trophy after serving to Metropolis win a fourth consecutive Premier League title and likewise starring in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph.

Metropolis supervisor Guardiola, talking Tuesday at a press convention earlier than his aspect’s League Cup tie towards Tottenham, was delighted by Rodri’s success.

“What can I say?,” mentioned the Spaniard. “First, to congratulate him and all his household and their mates, it is unimaginable information for him and for all of us.”

Rodri suffered an anterior cruciate ligament damage in September, ruling him out for the season.

Guardiola added: “Us at Manchester Metropolis are so happy with him. We’re so proud to share it with him and hopefully, it may give him power to get well properly for subsequent season.”

As for Actual’s choice to boycott the awards ceremony, despite the fact that they had been named males’s crew of the 12 months, Guardiola mentioned: “It is as much as them. In the event that they wish to congratulate, that is advantageous. If not, that is advantageous. Final season, Erling (Haaland) received the treble, greater than 50 objectives.

“I mentioned to him simply being there he needs to be so, so blissful and I mentioned the identical to Rodri.

“Final season, Erling ought to win, sure. Ought to (eventual winner Lionel) Messi have received? Sure. It would not matter.

“Ought to or not it’s Vinicius? Perhaps. It isn’t an elite group, it is journalists who vote.

“Within the final decade, Spanish soccer has made such a distinction, received a World Cup, Euros, and (Spanish gamers) weren’t in a position to win this award,” added the previous Barcelona participant and supervisor.

The boys’s and girls’s Ballon d’Or winners are chosen from the shortlist by a world jury of 100 specialist journalists.

The organisers, the Amaury group which owns the L’Equipe sports activities each day and France Soccer journal, insisted that “no participant or membership” knew upfront who had received.