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Only one player can stop Rodri from winning a deserved Ballon d’Or, according to Arsenal great Emmanuel Petit. Rodri is expected to lift the highest individual award of the world’s best player after his remarkable achievements with Manchester City and Spain. Petit, a member of Arsenal's double-winning side in 1998, firmly believes that the Spain midfielder deserves the Ballon d’Or. He also asserted that Brazilian Vinicius Junior is the only contender who could surpass Rodri, having secured victories in La Liga and the Champions League.
Petit's Pick For Ballond'Or 2024
Petit expressed his deep admiration for the Spanish midfielder and commended him for an exceptional year in football. Petit mentioned that if one goes by the number of accolades, Rodri would be the undisputed nominee for Ballon d'Or, but the Brazilian maestro, Vinicius Junior, having won LaLiga and Champions League with Real Madrid, also has a very good prospect of winning other than Rodri.
“In fact, if you look at the medals he’s won since he joined Manchester City, he could be the most decorated footballer in the world." - Petit said.
“Would the Ballon d’Or be the individual reward to mark his achievements? It would, but he will have a bit of competition on his hands from Vinicius Junior. For me, those are the two players that are leading the charge. One of them will win it this year.”- Petit added.
Also read :- Top 5 Ballon d'Or Contenders for 2024
Petit's take on Haaland being a potential future Ballon d'Or winner
Petit asserted the fact that Manchester City's number nine, Erling Haaland knows the only way he can win the Ballon d'Or is by continuing to score for his club and win accolades with his club since his national side is not a prominent force in International events.
Petit is looking forward to Haaland this season. He described Haaland as a super-hungry goal-scorer and that he is going to keep City's Premier League rival on the edge for the entirety of the current season. Petit felt that Haaland looked fresh, focused and ready to peak physically this season.
Petit identified Erling Haaland as a potential future recipient of a prestigious individual award, citing his ability to achieve this accolade through consistent goal-scoring for City. Haaland's exceptional form is evident as he has scored nine goals in just four Premier League matches for City.