Manchester City midfielder Rodri was met with thunderous applause and adoration from fans at the Etihad Stadium, as he returned home after being crowned the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.
The Spanish international played a pivotal role in City’s treble-winning campaign and also won the Player of the Tournament award at Euro 2024, having helped Spain become champions with a win over England in the final.
He received a guard of honor from his teammates before kick-off in their Premier League clash against Tottenham on Saturday evening.
The midfielder, dressed in a sleek black trenchcoat, celebrated the moment by dancing and kissing the Ballon d’Or, sharing the joyous occasion with the fans. A light show accompanied the presentation, with ‘Rodri’ and ‘Ballon d’Or 2024’ projected onto the field.
Rodri is currently ruled out for the season after a facing a setback with his ACL and injured the meniscus in his right knee.
The night however ended on a sour note as Man City lost 4-0 to Tottenham, making it five successive defeats for Pep Guardiola’s men.