Man City star Rodri fumes at Ballon d’Or snub and suggests prestigious award isn’t based on football merit after Lionel Messi’s 2023 win

Manchester City star Rodri has taken a swipe at the Ballon d'Or after being snubbed in 2023, with Lionel Messi picking up the award.

The Spaniard enjoyed a stellar season as the Citizens won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

He even scored the winning goal in the Champions League final for Manchester City against Inter Milan and helped Spain become Nations League champions.

However, despite this, Rodri wasn't surprised or shocked to see himself not make the top three and be overlooked in favour of Messi in the Ballon d'Or.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said: «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?

»What ultimately matters to me in football is what I achieved collectively."

In 2023, Man City lost five matches in which Rodri played, showing just how good he is.

The 27-year-old has also developed a knack for scoring goals, and if he's not going to win after a year like that, he never will.

Instead, Messi was crowned champion for an eighth time after winning his first World Cup title with Argentina.

The magician was brilliant throughout that tournament in Qatar and delivered some outstanding displays to ensure his country was crowned champions of the world.

But his club form was scratchy at Paris Saint-Germain before he moved to Inter Miami, so you can see why Rodri would be frustrated.

His teammate, Erling Haaland, also missed out on the award despite scoring 50 goals in 2023 for club and country.

He was an instrumental part of City winning the treble, and they wouldn't have done