Rodri has made his entrance at the Ballon d'Or gala, arriving on crutches for the prestigious ceremony.

The Spanish midfielder kept calm upon arrival on Monday, despite emerging as a strong favorite for the award in recent hours. "I’m feeling calm, just waiting for the moment and enjoying it with my family," he shared in a brief statement on the red carpet at the Théâtre du Châtelet.

Representing Manchester City, Rodri expressed his excitement at being present for his second consecutive Ballon d'Or ceremony. Reflecting on winning the recent Euro 2024 with Spain, he called it "a dream come true," but emphasized that football remains a team sport.

His name has risen to the top as the favorite to claim the award after Real Madrid reportedly withdrew from the event upon learning that their forward Vinicius would not be taking home the trophy.