Winner of the Ballon d’Or After the Barcelona player won the Kopa Trophy, Rodri assured Lamine Yamal that he would eventually receive the individual honor.
Consequently, what happened?
City star Rodri defeated Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, and runner-up Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid to win the coveted Ballon d’Or title on Monday night, formally becoming the best player in international football. In contrast, Yamal, a 17-year-old wonderkid, was chosen as the world’s finest young player and received the Kopa Trophy at the ceremony.
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THE LARGER IMAGE
When Rodri gave his winning speech, the Spaniard specifically mentioned Yamal and assured him that if he continued to get better, he would ultimately win the Ballon d’Or. With six goals and seven assists in 14 games this season, including one in the team’s 4-0 pounding of Real Madrid in the El Clasico, the teenager has been in incredible form for Barcelona.
WHAT RODRI SAID
Rodri said: “Lamine Yamal will win the Ballon d’Or very soon. I’m convinced of it. Keep it up, keep working hard, you’ll get there.”
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WHAT NEXT?
Rodri is currently sidelined for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury. Yamal will next be in action when Barcelona play Espanyol on Sunday in La Liga.