The 28-year-old midfielder recently scooped the coveted accolade but admitted he thinks it is “crazy” to be named the best player in the world.

He told FourFourTwo magazine: “To be named the best player in the world, it’s a bit… scary, to be honest.

“It’s scary because of what it means. To be the best of something in the world, it’s crazy. I never expect that.

“You don’t realise until you’re a bit older what you did.”

The Manchester City ace never thought he’d receive the honour after spending so many of his younger years seeing it won by “the two best players in history”, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

He said: “Watching the ceremony when I was young, it always belonged to Messi and Cristiano.

“They’re the two best players in history, so it made the award feel even further away.

“But this tells you how life can surprise you.

“It shows you can achieve whatever you want if you’re consistent, if you trust in yourself, if you’re always trying to perform better. Not thinking you’re doing enough.

“Always trying to do a bit more and a bit more.”

Despite being passed over for the PFA Player of the Year award in recent seasons to Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri has never been disappointed.

He insisted: “It’s a pure love. I always said the same – my ambition was to achieve collective things, titles, and individual trophies would come as a consequence.

“When you’re in a team able to win, you think, ‘OK, I’m going to do everything I can to win again and again’, being humble and hungry every year to go again.”