City's man for all occasions.could be named world No 1

Rodri may be first defensive midfielder to win Ballon d'Or

- RICHARD JOLLY

There has been one goalkeeper, Lev Yashin, and a trio of defenders, though Fabio Cannavaro was more of a stopper than the German midfielders, Franz Beckenbauer and Matthias Sammer, who were converted into sweepers. But there has never been a defensive midfielder. The Ballon d’Or is almost seven decades old and Rodri, the man who earned Manchester City their first Champions League, could be a history maker in another respect.

A trophy that had seemed the private property of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for a decade and a half may have an unlikely winner. Rodri ranks as second favourite, behind Vinicius Junior, for a prize he never imagined he might secure.

But then why would he? The Ballon d’Or has tended to be reserved for forwards and flair players. His job description entails unselfishness. The defensive midfielder is constructed to allow others to get the glory. And yet the paradox of Rodri is that he has reached such a standard, achieved so much himself for his respective teams, that the spotlight has shone back onto him.

As City open their Champions League campaign, it is with a reminder of a moment that propelled Rodri into contention: a few years ago, when debating who Ronaldo and Messi’s successor would be, few would have suggested a player hired to be a solid support act to the glitzier talents in Pep Guardiola’s ranks. But when they faced Internazionale in the final in 2023, Rodri’s goal was decisive.