Rodri Wants Another Ballon d’Or and Delivers a Line That Stole the Spotlight

Rodri admitted he wants to win the Ballon d’Or again, but refuses to campaign for it. The Spaniard believes the award should be decided by what is shown on the pitch.

Rodri's Ballon d’Or Ambition

Rodri is once again among the key names in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The FC Barcelona midfielder is going through a particularly significant period following his return to the pitch and a year in which he once again played a starring role for the Spanish national team.

The 30-year-old already knows what it means to win this prestigious award. He claimed the prize in 2024 and is now back in the mix among the leading contenders, in a race that also features players such as his teammate Lamine Yamal.

With the ceremony drawing closer, Rodri was directly asked about his chances and how he is approaching another Ballon d’Or candidacy. His response made it clear that he has a very defined view of this type of individual recognition.

“Do you think I don't want to win it?”: Rodri makes his ambitions clear

Rodri did not hesitate when asked whether he genuinely wanted to win the Ballon d’Or again. “Do you think I don't want to win it?”, the Spaniard replied, making it clear that he does want to lift the trophy again, although he prefers not to turn it into a personal campaign.

During his press conference, the midfielder said that the award should be decided by performances on the pitch. “Winning that trophy depends on what you do on the pitch and not on what you say off it,” he explained.

Rodri's approach is to wait for his football to be the main argument when the time comes to choose the winner.

The Spaniard puts collective work ahead of individual recognition

Although he admitted that he wants to lift the award again, Rodri also stressed that any individual success is tied to the performance of a team. “Individual titles reward collective work”, he said while highlighting the importance of his teammates.

Rodri was part of the team that won the 2026 World Cup and was also named MVP of the tournament, achievements that once again place him prominently in the Ballon d’Or discussion and reflect his view of collective work.

His return to Barcelona and his connection with Spain

Rodri also spoke about his return after two months out and expressed his satisfaction at being back in competition and proving to himself that he is once again ready to perform at the highest level. The midfielder described this period as a time of “euphoria and joy.”

He also compared the approaches of Hansi Flick and Luis de la Fuente. While acknowledging differences in certain tactical aspects, he explained that both coaches share important demands in the way they understand the game.

Key Takeaways From Rodri's Statement

Rodri does want to win the Ballon d’Or again, something he openly acknowledged to the media.
He does not intend to run a public campaign and believes the award should be decided by what is shown on the pitch.
His candidacy comes after winning the Ballon d’Or in 2024 and being named MVP of the 2026 World Cup with Spain.