Rodri, Manchester City’s midfield linchpin and Spain’s national hero, has been awarded the 2024 Ballon d’Or, capping a standout year where he propelled his club to Premier League victory and led Spain to European Championship glory.
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Joining him on the stage, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati claimed her second consecutive Women’s Ballon d’Or following her role in Barcelona’s Champions League and La Liga triumphs.
Despite his injury setback in September, which has sidelined him for the season, Rodri attended the Paris ceremony on crutches. His accomplishment as a holding midfielder underscores his significant impact on the field, a rarity for this typically offense-focused award.
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham completed the top three, though neither attended after an early leak revealed Rodri would claim the prize—a decision that reportedly displeased the Spanish club.
In the Women’s category, Bonmati’s back-to-back win celebrates her pivotal role in Barcelona’s continued dominance. Teammates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo followed her in second and third place, respectively. “This is an achievement that couldn’t happen alone,” Bonmati remarked, expressing gratitude to her teammates and Barcelona’s management.
This year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony also honored younger talent, awarding Barcelona and Spain’s Lamine Yamal the Kopa Trophy for the best Under-21 player. He follows in the footsteps of previous Barcelona stars like Pedri and Gavi, who dominated the award in recent years.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, received the Men’s Club of the Year title, recognizing their Champions League and La Liga double, while Barcelona claimed the Women’s Club of the Year.
Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe were co-winners of the Gerd Muller Trophy, each scoring 52 goals for club and country over the past season. Kane, present to receive the award from Bayern Munich legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, acknowledged Mbappe’s shared accomplishment.
In other awards, Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa secured the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper for the second consecutive year. Emma Hayes and Carlo Ancelotti were named Women’s and Men’s Coach of the Year, respectively, completing an evening that celebrated exceptional talent and relentless achievement across global football.
2024 Ballon d’Or Nominees: Among the nominees were standout players across the globe: England’s Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Turkey, Inter), Dani Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid), Rúben Dias (Portugal, Manchester City), Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City), Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich), Kylian Mbappé (France, PSG/Real Madrid), and many others representing the pinnacle of footballing excellence.
With the Ballon d’Or awards setting new benchmarks and recognizing unprecedented talent across various roles, this year’s ceremony proved to be a momentous occasion for football fans worldwide.
