Guardiola: After Ronaldo-Messi era anyone can win Ballon d'Or

Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Rodri receives the Ballon d'Or award at the 2024 France Football Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 28, 2024.

Jakarta - Manchester City coach Josep "Pep" Guardiola said, after the era of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, anyone can win the title of the world's best player according to French football magazine France Football, Ballon d'Or.

"Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were extraordinary in their time. They always shared the title (world's best player-ed) and deserved it. They were at different levels. However, now the title feels close and anyone can win it," said Guardiola, quoted from the Manchester City website in Jakarta, Tuesday.

2024 is the year where for the first time Ronaldo and Messi are not on the list of Ballon d'Or nominees. Previously, since 2003, one or both of them have always been on the list of nominees.

Ronaldo, who has been nominated for the Ballon d'Or 18 times, has won the award five times. Meanwhile, Messi has won it eight times, the most in history, from 16 nominations.

However, Pep Guardiola did not underestimate the ability of his team's defensive midfielder, Rodrigo "Rodri" Hernandez, who received the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

According to the Spanish tactician, everyone at Manchester City is happy with the trophy received by Rodri.

Rodri is indeed the first City player to receive the Ballon d'Or. He is also the first Spanish footballer to win the trophy since 1960.

"We are very proud of him. It's something extraordinary for him and of course for us at City and the supporters. In previous years, it was unimaginable that one of our players would be able to win that prestigious award. I hope the trophy gives energy for Rodri to recover quickly from his injury and be with us again next season," said Guardiola.

Apart from Rodri, there are three other Manchester City players who are in the ranks of the world's best Ballon d'Or players, namely Erling Haaland (in fifth place), Phil Foden (11th place) and Ruben Dias (23rd place).

Apart from them, City's 20-year-old Savio "Savinho" de Oliveira is also in the running for France Football's Kopa Trophy for the world's best under-21 player.

As for Erling Haaland, who is in fifth place in the Ballon d'Or after a great season with City in 2023-2024, in which he led his team to three titles and scored more than 50 goals, Guardiola stressed that his player should not be discouraged.

"I told him, you have to be proud to be where you are. Whether Erling or even Messi should win in the end it doesn't matter anymore. The award represents something in the world of football, what you have done with your teammates, where they have completed something good," he said.

SOURCE: antaranews.com