Ballon d'Or 'no use to me', Rodri admits amid Spain and Manchester City midfielder's injury woes as he picks frontrunners for 2025 award

Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri has admitted that winning the Ballon d'Or is now "no use" to him after having to spend the majority of last season out injured. The 29-year-old was sidelined with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament before picking up the prestigious award last October. He only returned to action in May of this year and is still working his way back to full fitness.

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Rodri has admitted that his Ballon d'Or triumph was not worth the time he has spent out injured, as he picked the frontrunners to succeed him for the 2025 award.

The Spain and Manchester City midfielder won the 2024 men's Ballon d'Or after helping his club to a fourth successive Premier League title, and being named UEFA Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament as Spain triumphed.

A month before picking up the prestigious award, however, he was sidelined with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament that forced him to miss most of last season.

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"The injury is much more significant than the Ballon d'Or," Rodri said before Spain's World Cup qualifier in Turkey. "It was a breath of fresh air at a time when I was having a really hard time."

Rodri only returned to competitive action in May after eight months out.

"I'm happy for the recognition, but it's of no use to me," he said of the individual award. "I still want to be the same player.

"Above all, when you go through this process on a mental level, I want to return to my level, I want to enjoy football again. That's my only goal."

While he will not be in contention for this year's Ballon d'Or, the 2024 winner gave his thoughts on the race as he picked the frontrunners in Paris Saint-Germain's UEFA Champions League winning pair Vitinha and Ousmane Dembele.

"I have preferences for my team-mates, but the truth is PSG have been the team of the season, and it would be hard not to give it to one of their players," he said.

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"I was really happy for Luis Enrique, for Fabian. Out of sympathy, I’d love for it to go to Lamine [Yamal] or Pedri, but based on sporting merit, maybe it’s between Ousmane or Vitinha," he added.

The midfielder came off the bench shortly after 60 minutes in Spain's 3-0 win over Bulgaria and is still yet to return to full fitness.

He missed City's first league game of the season after picking up another injury at the FIFA Club World Cup.

"So far I've played two [matches this season] with my club, one in its entirety. I'm going as fast as I can, getting back into shape."

"I'm very happy to be back here. I'm recharged and very excited, physically I feel very good. Now it's a matter of getting back into the swing of things."

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Since his injury, Arsenal new boy Martin Zubimendi has usurped Rodri's position and represents the side's future.

"He's a great player. He has the discipline and mentality that can lead him to become one of the best, if he isn't already," he added.

"I spoke to him the other day and told him it was his time, that I was leaving him the keys to the team. He's been at an incredible level and I'm happy to see the team at the same level."

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