Pep Guardiola insists he has no issue with Real Madrid’s decision to snub last night’s Ballon d’Or ceremony which Manchester City’s Rodri crowned as the world’s best player.
City’s midfield linchpin, who played a lead role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, beat the Real trio of Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal and Jude Bellingham to the top honour, and that verdict from the 100-strong panel of voters led the delegation from the Spanish giants to stay at home.
As a result, there was nobody on hand to collect the men’s club of the year award, Carlo Ancelotti could not accept the men’s coach of the year award, and Kylian Mbappe was not there to take his share of the Gerd Muller trophy alongside Harry Kane.
The reigning Champions League holders had somewhat signalled Rodri’s success before the ceremony began as their delegation cancelled their trip to the French capital.
In a statement reported by Spanish newspaper AS, the club said: ‘If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to (Dani) Carvajal as the winner.
‘As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or does not respect Real Madrid. Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.’
Yet Madrid finished the night with two awards and a share of a third, and with four players in the top six in the final ranking for the men’s Ballon d’Or – Vinicius, Bellingham, Carvajal and Mbappe, who finished sixth in the voting, one place behind Rodri’s club teammate Erling Haaland.
Asked for his reaction to Real’s no-show, Guardiola remained coy and chose instead to focus on the pride he felt at seeing Rodri win such a prestigious award.
He said: ‘It’s up to them. If they want to congratulate, that’s fine. If not, that’s fine as well. At Manchester City, we are not here to judge other clubs on what they decide they have to do.
‘Last season for example, Erling [Haaland] won the Treble, scored more than 50 goals. I said to him ‘just being there, you have to be so happy’. I said the same to Rodri. If you are in the first two, three or four, it’s exceptional. Last season, Erling should win, yes. Should Messi have won? Yes. It doesn’t matter.
‘You and your teammates have done something amazing. Should it be Vinicius? Maybe. It’s not an elite group, it’s journalists who vote.
‘Rodri made an incredible speech, he spoke about family and Spanish football. In the last decade, Spanish football has made such a difference, won a World Cup, Euros, and weren’t able to win this award.
‘Their importance in the last 10 or 15 years has been so important. I remember once we nominated three players from La Masia, Xavi and Iniesta couldn’t beat Messi, he was a monster. Only Ronaldo could.’
On Rodri’s achievement, specifically, Guradiola added: ‘What can I say? First, to congratulate him and all his family and their friends, it’s incredible news for him and for all of us.
‘All Manchester City, our fans, we are so proud of him. We could never have imagined this years ago, that one [City] player could receive this prestigious award. We are so delighted to share it with him and hopefully, it can give him energy to recover well for next season and be with us again.’