Rodri's Ballon d'Or is an act of justice for an unknown class of footballer Take the seed

WWhen Rodrigo Hernandez was a student, living in a hall of residence at the University of Castellon and making a living reading, he was, to use his own words, “the cripple who never did anything”. He might go for dinner, sure, stop by the bar briefly, but he'd never do the after-hours stuff. Most of his class didn't realize this until they saw him play for Villarreal. He was 19, he didn't say anything and they didn't know he was a footballer; Now, at 28, he has been voted the world's best, the first Spaniard to win the Ballon d'Or since Luis Suarez 64 years ago.

On a dramatic day dominated by cries of injustice, it was in its way an act of justice: to Rodri but more to him. kind of Players and individuals, an idea, an idea; Collectivism embodied by an individual, even football itself. Even in Spain, even if it wasn't received the way it was at home where Real Madrid refused to fly to Paris when they found out Vinicius Jr wasn't going to win, set the tone and overshadow everything. A national success, Rodri Aitana joining the wild, wasn't really celebrated as one, certainly not unanimously.

Even at the Théâtre du Châtelet, when George Weah opened the envelope and began to speak “The winner is…”There's “Vinicius!” Screams were heard. There were some whistles when Rodri arrived. Everything was a little dirty, a little sad, as if he had done something terrible and not only played football, really well, but he rose above it, his speech was as generous, clear and understated as his game. It was something he wanted to share, and while the Brazilian's case was strong, taking the victory as a read, the idea that Rodri didn't is absurd.

When it comes to influencing the way a team plays, conditioning everyone and everything, there is no one like him. team? teams. His role, he says, is to “put my team to work”, bringing “the light”. That's why they don't work like others. Manchester City are Premier League champions whom he led to the Champions League last year while, domestically, his case is stronger. And Spain, winners of Euro 2024, tilt that international trophy this time. His manager at City, Pep Guardiola, called him “the best midfielder in the world so far”, while Spain manager Luis de la Fuente described him as “the perfect computer”, leading the best European champions.

Enough of the 100 voters – indeed it is a democracy, if a flawed one, too easily forgotten – agree. Rodri got up, handed his crutches to Ruben Dias, whom he thanked for coming with him to France. Slowly, he made his way to the stage, where Didier Drogba helped him as he got into position. Rodri always said it was an award that didn't bother him but, if it's true, it's different when you're standing there holding the trophy. There was a sigh in his gaze, the emotion evident. “I never thought this day would happen,” he said.

“It's not for me, the victory of Spanish football,” said Rodri, repeatedly referring to “my country”. He mentioned other players who could have won it and one he said would be in the future, all of them Spanish. It was for them. Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas and Sergio Busquets. Then Dani Carvajal, who suffered the same knee injury and who, he said, would deserve to be on the podium. They talked, Rodri later revealed, and Carvajal was happy for him. He also told Lamin Yamal that he would be there one day. “Keep working hard,” he told the 17-year-old from Barcelona.

The message echoed what he had said in Germany, something paternal in it, so very rude. Listen to him and you hear it. At times it was tempting to see him as the de facto coach during the tournament election. “I've always believed that the role of a midfielder is very important in terms of leadership: conceptually, tactically, what's going on,” he said. “I like that role and it's a midfielder's role should If he wants the team to work.

He's always been like that, natural, though he told a story on Monday's show about how one day when he was 17 he was ready to give it all up; He dedicated his life to football but as he felt it was falling apart, his father convinced him to continue. “It is true that I find it easy to understand [as a kid]Read the game,” he said. “When a team was successful, I could see why, how they created spaces: 'This player is going to do this, that player is going to do that.'” He heard that, too. Ilkay Gundogan recalls how in his first season at City he was 30, 35 minutes behind every day. Not to practice, but to talk: “He was always discussing, learning, and he perfected his game.”

After all he made everyone else perfect. He saw collective action as his job. “If you make good selections, the team will do well,” he said. It may not always be a role to be seen, though he is hardly unknown and this is where the conflict comes in: there is a moment where being “underrated” becomes a quality for which a player is rated; Where modesty, silence, “normality”, attract your attention; Where analytical, intelligent and collegial speech helps in an individual case – and Rodri speaks very Well, you are a man want To listen, to someone you trust.

Voting for him becomes almost a cause, a duty to remedy the balance, his game reflects him: a collective decision that benefits him personally. There's something about Rodri getting the Ballon d'Or that speaks to a shift, a reshaping of priorities where football isn't just about goals or stars who seek and grab the spotlight – although the melodrama surrounding Vinicius' absence suggests it hasn't been fully overcome. To recognize Rodri is to recognize not just one player but a type of player and his importance, a whole class of footballers, and belatedly, justice for those who could and perhaps should have won the Ballon d'Or earlier, and for the game. Himself “Being here, I give visibility to the midfielder: shadowy but coming into the light today” says Rodri.

Ahead of this summer's Euros, Alvaro Morata insisted his team-mate would have already won the Ballon d'Or if he had sold himself a bit more; A university student who doesn't tell everyone he's a footballer could do with a little talking. “He could have easily won it last year; What he lacks is marketing, I always tell him,” said the Spain captain. “But I don't play football for that,” replied Rodri. “He sometimes says: 'Mate, you should…' but I understand football differently. And I know how it works so I don't get frustrated. It doesn't bother me but if one day someone wants to reward work, that's it. welcome.” Monday night in Paris, they.