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Rodri has opened up on why he does not have a social media account despite becoming the best player in the world.
After a stellar year, Manchester City’s Rodri Hernández took home the 2024 Ballon d'Or and wasted no time making headlines, not just for his win, but for his outspoken stance on social media.
Despite being one of the best midfielders of his generation, the 28-year-old Spanish international keeps a low profile, steering clear of Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and the social media spotlight.
In a recent interview with The Player’s Tribune, Rodri shared that he has little interest in fame or luxury—two things fellow nominee Vinicius Jr. is known to embrace.
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"If I'm normal, it's probably in the sense that I don't care about social media or £400 trainers,” Rodri stated.
He added, "I didn’t become a footballer to buy a Ferrari."
His recent comments were widely interpreted as a subtle dig at the inital favourite for the award-Real Madrid's Vinicius, whose lavish lifestyle has garnered him over 50 million Instagram followers.
Unlike Vinicius, who missed the awards gala after learning he didn’t win, Rodri arrived at Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet in clutches, as the ultimate underdog.
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While Real Madrid secured two awards—Coach of the Year and Men’s Team of the Year—there was no presence from the club, adding fuel to the fire of Rodri's understated yet pointed critique of the social media-driven football culture.
Following Rodri’s win, Vinicius took to social media to issue a powerful response after being snubbed on D-day.
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He wrote on his official X account: “I'll do it 10x if I have to. They're not ready.” signalling his never-say-die attitude to move on and keep on pushing towards his dream goal.
Rodri’s humble rise and grounded lifestyle
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Rodri’s minimalistic approach extends beyond his views on fame.
The Man City star still fondly recalls his early days, from riding a bike to training to saving up €3,000 for his first car, an Opel Corsa.
Rodri believes that not having an account on social media, helps him to abstract himself from “unnecessary information” and that it serves to “calm down that footballer facet and not be so recognized.'
One of his friends was quoted to have said: “Fame does not satisfy him and he only turns to charitable actions because he always says that he would like to give back to society what they have given him.”
Rodri’s grounded approach and decision to stay off social media are rare qualities in today’s footballing world, especially among top-tier players.
For Rodri, it's the passion for the game and a strong sense of humility that make him a true champion.
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