Manchester City midfielder, Rodri has emerged as the winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or award, beating competition from the Real Madrid trio of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Dani Carvajal.

The Spanish international becomes the second Premier League Player to win the coveted award in 16 years since Cristiano Ronaldo won it in 2008.

Rodri, emotional after winning the Ballon d’Or: “Thanks for this. It’s a special day for me and all those close to me.

“A very special day, for me, my family and my country.

“I’d like to tell you an anecdote the story that led me here. When I was 17-year-old I packed up my suitcases and I went to Villarreal with a dream to work in the Premier League, and one day I called my father crying telling him it was all over and that I had invested my life to get here and I had the feeling that, this was it.

‘My father said we had come all the way here, let’s keep going and this is something that changed my mindset and now, here I am. I am a normal boy who never gets carried away with stereotypes. Hard work is what matters.”

“I am just trying to take care of myself. Rest, enjoy the free time with my family and come back stronger.

“I try to improve every day, try to level up my game.