Pep Guardiola expressed his satisfaction as Manchester City’s Rodri was crowned the Ballon d’Or winner, despite Real Madrid’s noticeable absence at the ceremony.
Rodri, who excelled with City and played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, surpassed Real stars Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal, and Jude Bellingham to claim the award.
Real Madrid, however, declined to attend, with none present to collect the Men’s Club of the Year or Men’s Coach of the Year awards. Kylian Mbappe, who shared the Gerd Muller trophy with Harry Kane, was also absent.
Before the ceremony, Real Madrid hinted at their dissatisfaction with the decision, citing perceived disrespect.
Spanish publication AS quoted the club’s statement, which suggested that if the selection criteria didn’t favor Vinicius, it should have at least awarded Carvajal. They felt the process undervalued their players and opted out in response.
Despite this stance, Real still secured two awards and had four players among the top six in Ballon d’Or rankings.
When asked about Real Madrid’s reaction, Guardiola refrained from criticism, saying, “It’s up to them. At Manchester City, we’re not here to judge other clubs on their decisions.”
Guardiola emphasized the honor of being nominated, recalling that he had encouraged both Haaland and Rodri to appreciate the experience, regardless of winning.
Praising Rodri’s speech at the event, Guardiola noted his pride in the player’s tribute to family and Spanish football.
Guardiola congratulated Rodri and his family, expressing immense pride within Manchester City for achieving such recognition.
Reflecting on the club’s journey, he added, “We could never have imagined this years ago…to see a [City] player receive this prestigious award is remarkable.”