Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder, believes Spain deserves to produce the next Ballon d'Or winner.

The Euro 2024 champions have not had a player receive the trophy in 64 years.

Rodri has recently told ESPN that winning the Ballon d'Or would be a "dream come true for me".

The 28-year-old is seen as Vinícius Júnior's main competitor for this year's award.

Rodri helped City win their fourth consecutive Premier League title last season and was voted Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament.

"Many people believe Rodri will win, but how could [Andrés] Iniesta or Xavi not win?

"Partially, I agree. They were era-defining players, some of the best in history, but they were also part of a generation that featured [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo].

"Winning, however, would be a source of pride for both me and my country. "Having a Spanish representative who can win the Ballon d'Or benefits everyone," Rodri added.