4 champions + 3 MVPs, Manchester City's low-key superstar to the top! Messi's golden ball is more stable
In the UEFA Nations League final, Spain defeated Croatia 5-4 on penalties to win the UEFA Nations League. The UEFA Nations League MVP was awarded to Spanish midfielder Rodri.
The 27-year-old Rodri is a low-key iron man and offensive and defensive metronome for Manchester City and the Spanish national team. In the final against Croatia, Rodri played 120 minutes, touched the ball 106 times, passed with a 91% success rate, and snatched the ball back 9 times, and fought successfully 4 times, as stable and strong as ever.
For Rodri, the 2022-23 season was a dream, and the Spain international also reached the pinnacle of his life:
In Manchester City, Rodri won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League; In the Spanish national team, Rodri won the UEFA Nations League; In terms of personal honors, Rodri won the UEFA Nations League MVP, Champions League MVP, Champions League Final MVP - 4 titles, 3 MVPs, Rodri deserves to be the "world's No. 1 back".
A familiar question, spread among the media and fans. Media outlets such as Os, Squawka and others asked: Rodri, a Golden Globe contender?
At the pre-match press conference between Spain and Croatia, a reporter asked, does Rodri have any expectations for the Ballon d'Or?
When this question arose, many of the Spanish internationals present were a little surprised. Rodri replied, "I didn't think much about it. ”
Rodri's supporters believe that in 2021, Jorginho can compete for the Ballon d'Or (in the end of 3rd) and also win UEFA's Player of the Season, Rodri, who is better than Jorginho, can also compete with Messi. However, unlike in 2021, Rodri's rival is too strong - Lionel Messi.
After Messi won the World Cup, the outside world "held" 3 Messi's challengers:
The earliest was Venicius. In the 1/8 final of the Champions League, Real Madrid eliminated Liverpool 6-2 on aggregate. In the first leg, Real Madrid scored five goals in a row when they were 2-0 down, and Vinicius scored twice to burst Liverpool. Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti praised his love for his general, "he is the most decisive player in the world". However, Venicius challenged Messi's Ballon d'Or status like a grasshopper shaking a tree.
Then in April, Haaland became the strongest challenger. Majin Buu set a new goal record in the Premier League, scoring 5 goals in a single game in the Champions League, coinciding with Messi's Paris exit in the Champions League, the king was booed by fans, and the call for "Haaland counterattacks Messi" is extremely high. However, Haaland has been dumb in the FA Cup final, Champions League semi-finals and Champions League finals, and although he has excellent statistics of 52 goals in 53 games, the key battle is too crotch-pulling.
Now, Rodri has been pushed out again, forcibly competing with Messi for the Ballon d'Or. Manchester City's 3 crown honours are more about the team's success, Pep Guardiola's wisdom, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Haaland, Rodri, Stones, Grealish, B seats... are all champions, and it is difficult to choose the best player to compete with Messi.
Haaland or Rodri can't shake Messi's Ballon d'Or status. Haaland lacked the performance of key games, even the Champions League MVP was "snatched" by teammate Rodri, and the national team record was even more delayed; Rodri has a championship and an MVP, but he is not even a "team brother", and the meaning of MVP represents team strength.
In the competition for the Ballon d'Or, Rodri was loud and took Haaland's ticket away - which means that Messi's Ballon d'Or is more stable.