"We are six," Rodri's favorites for the Ballon d'Or (without Mbappé, Kvara, or Dembélé)

Ballon d'Or winner in 2024, Rodri is nominated again for the 2026 edition after winning the Best Player of the World Cup award. He would like the award to go to a Spaniard this year.

Rodri has six favorites for the Ballon d'Or. In an interview with Partizado de Cope on Wednesday, the FC Barcelona midfielder expressed his wish to see a Spanish player win the award after Spain's World Cup victory. There are six nominees, and the former Manchester City player believes each has a strong case. "What I would really like is for a Spaniard to win it," he said. "There are six of us: Cucurella, Cubarsí, Rodri, Ruiz, Lamine, and Ferran. I can tell you, individually, that each of them absolutely deserves the Ballon d'Or… I think all my teammates have strong arguments. Fabián Ruiz has won the most titles. Cubarsí, for what he achieved at just 19 years old. Ferran scored the winning goal. As for me, I was named best player of the tournament. And Lamine… incredible."

"Don't you think they all have valid arguments?"

"Don't you think they all have valid points to make? But in the end, there will only be one winner. Luckily, I'm not the one voting!" The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner omitted several favorites for the 2026 award, such as Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Harry Kane, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. He also said he understands Mbappé and Yamal's extensive media campaign to win the trophy. "I think it's fantastic that they consider themselves the best in the world," he explained.

🏅 Favorites of the Golden Ball by Rodri Hernández

🤩 “I am enchanted by the heart that I am in Spain”

🇪🇸 "Todos los españoles tienen en argumentsos: Fabián ha ganado todo, lo que ha hecho Cubarsí con 19 años, Lamine es spectacular..."

📻 #PartidazoCOPE pic.twitter.com/Bt7UV270sn

— El Partidazo de COPE (@partidazocope)

Chargement du post X/Twitter...

He was surprised, however, by the absence of Raphinha, his teammate at Barça, from the list of 30 nominees. "He's the player who surprised me the most by far," he revealed after discovering the Brazilian upon his arrival at Barça this summer. "I told him: 'Wait, weren't you playing on the wing at Leeds, cutting inside and scoring a goal now and then? And now you're playing as a number 9, it's beyond me. I don't understand how he's not in the Ballon d'Or 30.'"

Rodri also confirmed his presence in London for the award ceremony on October 26th, just in case another pleasant surprise occurs. "Yes, I'll be there, I'll go no matter what," he confirmed. "Even on the day of the Ballon d'Or, I thought they wouldn't give it to me, but I was there." Furious at seeing the trophy slip through their player Vinicius's fingers, Real Madrid snubbed the ceremony in 2024 and did not attend Rodri's triumph.