Winning the Ballon d'Or is the highest individual achievement for a footballer and an accomplishment many can only dream of. Those who have won the illustrious France Football Award have risen to the top of world football with some fascinating stories to tell. Take, for example, Luka Modric , who won the award in 2018 and broke Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo 's 10-year dominance.
The Real Madrid hero used football as an escape during the hardships of youth amid the Croatian War of Independence. He took his footballing abilities from the streets to the world stage. The Ballon d'Or has a rich history of propelling players into superstardom and cementing their legacies among the sport's all-time greats.
These players made huge sacrifices in their lives to get to the top, including long periods without seeing their families as their footballing careers progressed. Rodri knows all about this, becoming the latest Ballon d'Or winner in October 2024 . The Manchester City midfielder triumphed in controversial fashion , beating longtime favorite for the award, Vinicius Junior .
The Spaniard was recognised for a remarkable 2023-24 campaign in which he was crucial for Pep Guardiola 's City. He appeared 85 times for club and country and lost just one game, a 2-1 FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United . However, fans might not have had the chance to see Rodri's rise and journey towards greatness.
He was hesitant about continuing his career in his homeland of Spain during his youth. F.