Ballon d’Or award is given based on money – Man City’s Rodri makes claim

Manchester City midfielder, Rodri has said he was not surprised to be left out of the Ballon d’Or top three list.

According to Rodri, the award prioritises “money and advertising”.

Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or last October.

Messi beat City striker Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe to the prize.

Rodri, who came fifth behind team-mate Kevin De Bruyne, was asked about not making the top three.

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He told The Mirror: “I am not surprised. This is normal. I understand very well how things work in these individual awards.

“They are based on marketing, money and advertising.

“There have been midfielders before who were also Spanish who did not get what they deserved. Do you understand what I mean? (Laughs). What ultimately matters to me in football is what I achieved collectively.”