Spanish midfielder Rodri, who plays for Manchester City, has emerged as the frontrunner for the Ballon d'Or, with the prestigious award ceremony taking place tonight in Paris. The Real Madrid delegation, which includes players like Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal, canceled their trip to Paris after learning that the Brazilian forward, previously the favorite, would not be winning the award, according to sources at Real Madrid.

Initially, the club considered sending Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid’s Director of Institutional Relations, but ultimately opted not to attend the ceremony.

Rodri, already in Paris, was spotted on crutches due to the severe knee injury he sustained in September. He led Manchester City to a fourth consecutive Premier League title last season and helped Spain secure the Euro 2024 title in Germany.

Widely regarded as the best defensive midfielder globally, Rodri is indispensable for Manchester City. Initially seen as an outsider in the race for the Ballon d'Or, his odds have surged amid speculation favoring Vinícius Júnior. If he wins, Rodri would become the first player in Manchester City's history to claim the Ballon d'Or.

In addition to Rodri, Manchester City has three more players—Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden—among the 30 Ballon d'Or nominees, with Pep Guardiola in the running for the Best Coach award, and Savinho nominated for the Kopa Trophy for Best Under-21 Player.