Rodri Reveals He Didn’t Receive Congratulations from Messi, Ronaldo, or Benzema After Ballon d’Or Win

Rodri, Manchester City’s star midfielder, has revealed that he did not receive congratulations from any of the footballing icons—Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, or Karim Benzema—after winning the 2024 Ballon d’Or. The 28-year-old, who clinched the prestigious award on October 28 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, noted that even Luka Modrić, the Real Madrid midfielder and former Ballon d’Or winner, did not reach out to him following his triumph.

In an interview with *Diario AS*, Rodri shared his surprise at the lack of acknowledgment from the game’s biggest names, saying, “Messages from previous Ballon d’Or winners? I would like to verify… There are none from Messi, Cristiano, Modrić or Benzema (laughs).”

Rodri’s victory at the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony saw him finish ahead of Real Madrid’s Vinícius Jr., while Messi and Ronaldo, who have dominated the award for over a decade, were also in attendance. Between them, Messi (8 Ballon d’Ors) and Ronaldo (5 Ballon d’Ors) have won the prestigious title 13 times, making their silence particularly notable.

Despite the lack of congratulatory messages from his peers, Rodri has continued to shine for Manchester City, contributing significantly to their success both domestically and internationally.