Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been awarded the 68th Ballon d’Or. The Spanish international was honored at a ceremony in France on Monday.

Rodri’s exceptional performances for Manchester City and the Spanish national team made him a strong favorite for the award. He played a crucial role in City’s record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title and was named Player of the Tournament as Spain won the European Championship, defeating England in the final in Berlin.

Rodri defeated a strong field of nominees from Real Madrid, including Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Vinicius Junior, and Kylian Mbappé.

“It’s an incredible night for me,” said Rodri, who is currently recovering from an injury. “I want to thank my family and everyone who has supported me. This award is a testament to their guidance and belief in me.”

The Ballon d’Or is awarded based on a player’s individual performances, decisive moments, collective achievements, trophies won, and fair play. A panel of 100 international journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations selects the winner.

This year’s Ballon d’Or marked a historic moment, as neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo, who have dominated the award for over a decade, were included from the shortlist. Additionally, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric, previous Ballon d’Or winners, were also absent from the nominations.

In the coaching category, Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti was named Coach of the Year. He led Real Madrid to the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles last season but did not travel to France.

Aitana Bonmati of Spain won the women’s Ballon d’Or. She played a pivotal role in Spain’s FIFA Women’s World Cup victory and UEFA Women’s Nations League triumph. Additionally, she helped Barcelona win the UEFA Women’s Champions League, scoring the opening goal in the final against Olympique Lyonnais. This is Bonmati’s second consecutive Ballon d’Or.