Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer are in perfect agreement on the Ballon d'Or winner

Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have backed Manchester City midfielder Rodri to win the Ballon d'Or. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a stellar year for club and country, winning the Premier League and then the European Championship with Spain.

Yet because he is a defensive midfielder rather than a serial goalscorer, many believe he will struggle to clinch the individual award. However, Rodri's impact is impossible to ignore, especially as he has not lost a 90-minute game of football since March 2023, when Scotland beat Spain 2-0 in Euro 2024 qualifying.

The former Atletico Madrid player will be up against Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, while Lionel Messi could also be in contention for the title for a ninth time after winning the Copa America with Argentina. Despite the stiff competition, Lineker and Shearer believe Rodri is in a special position.

In an interview with Micah Richards on the Rest is Football podcast, Shearer and Lineker both named Rodri as their choice for the Ballon d'Or, with the Newcastle United legend saying: “It can only be him.”

Lineker added: “I think Rodri deserves it. They didn't win the Champions League with City, but they won the league and then the Euros with Spain, when he was their leader.”

He also believes Rodri's Spain team-mate Lamine Yamal will also win an award. The former Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur forward said: “I think the young player of the year award will go to Lamine Yamal. He could win it in the next five years.”

Pep Guardiola has also recently thrown his support behind the midfield maestro for the prestigious award which will be presented in Paris on Monday, October 28, the Mirror reports. Speaking ahead of City's recent triumph over West Ham United, Guardiola said: “We would be delighted – he deserves it.”

“But maybe someone else deserves it too. People will vote. Rodri has not had just one season, but many really good seasons and the previous season was really good with the Premier League and the Euros won with Spain.

“But there are other players who have had a good season. I would like to have one of them.” [City] player to win it because for the players it means a lot. I would love that.

“I've said it many times, just to be in contention and to be here means that the club – individually and collectively – have had a good season. There are a lot of good teams with good players, I hope that happens but it's not in my hands.”

Listen to “The Rest Is Football” wherever you get your podcasts.