'Best in his position'

City manager Pep Guardiola has described Rodri as "in his position, the best".

"He can do everything. The quality, he reads the game, his mentality, he is always ready," Guardiola has said.

In addition to his metronomic passing and ball-winning capabilities, the former Atletico Madrid player has a knack of popping up with crucial goals for both club and country.

His goal won City its first Champions League in 2023, but he also scored vital goals for Spain, such as the equalizer in its last-16 Euro 2024 tie against Georgia.

So central is Rodri to Manchester City, that its past four Premier League defeats have all come when he was absent.

City is currently top of the Premier League, but its chances of winning a fifth straight domestic title were dented in September when Rodri suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, ruling him out for the season.

Bonmati, 26, joins her Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas as the only women to win the Ballon d'Or twice since the award's inauguration in 2018.

"This cannot be achieved alone, I am very lucky to be surrounded by players who make me better every day," Bonmati said.

The Catalans won every trophy available to them last season — the Spanish league, Cup, Super Cup and a second-successive Women's Champions League.

AFP