Rodri wins the 2024 Ballon d’Or

The Ballon d’Or award surprised everyone, being won by Rodri, the Spanish midfielder from Manchester City. He beat out Vini Jr., who was the favorite to claim the award for best player in the world.

Come follow all the winners of the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards.

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Rodri Outshines Vini Jr. and Wins the Ballon d’Or

Rodri was named the best player in the world in 2024, surpassing Vini Jr., who was favored due to his stellar season and impact as a key player. The Brazilian won the Champions League as the main star for his team, while the Spaniard won the Euros with Spain and claimed the award for the best player in the competition, although he wasn’t even considered Spain’s standout player, with performances from players like Lamine Yamal, Fabián Ruiz, and even Dani Olmo, who started on the bench but earned a starting role.

After 64 years, a Spaniard is crowned the best player in the world. Rodri is only the third Spaniard to win the Ballon d’Or. Previously, only the Argentine-born Spaniard Di Stéfano (1957 and 1959) and Luis Suárez (1960) had won, during a period when only Europeans could compete.

Vini Jr. was the favorite and deserved to win the Ballon d’Or. The forward and the entire Real Madrid delegation skipped the event, knowing from backstage that the Brazilian would not be crowned, with no team nominees in attendance. Officially, the club stated it “will not go where Real Madrid is not respected.”

Upon receiving the award, Rodri said:

“On social media, people don’t know me well. I’m a regular guy. I want to be the best person I can be every day, a leader for my teammates. I’m demanding, I’m serious, but I’m just a normal guy.

“I want to tell all the young boys out there that you don’t need to be flashy, be incredible. You can just be a regular guy.”

Rodri’s 2023/24 Season (Club and National Team):

• 58 games
• 12 goals
• 13 assists
• 4 titles: UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, Premier League, Euros

Photo: FRANCK FIFE/AFP

Aitana Bonmatí Named World’s Best Female Player for Second Consecutive Year

Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí won the “France Football” award for the second year in a row.

The 26-year-old midfielder claimed the season’s main titles and was the standout player for Barcelona.

Aitana Bonmatí’s 2023/24 Season:

• 49 games
• 23 goals
• 17 assists
• Champions League winner
• Spanish League winner
• Copa del Rey winner
• Spanish Super Cup winner

Photo: FRANCK FIFE/AFP

Ancelotti and Emma Hayes Named Best Managers

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti did not receive the award on stage, as the club boycotted the ceremony.

Ancelotti won the inaugural “Best Coach” award at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, taking home the Johan Cruyff trophy, a new addition to the traditional awards.

There wasn’t even a video shown of Ancelotti receiving the trophy, unlike the best female coach Emma Hayes, who was also absent from the event.

Photo: Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters

Dibu Martínez Wins the Yashin Trophy as the World’s Best Goalkeeper

The Argentine goalkeeper won the award for the second consecutive year. He helped his national team claim the Copa América and plays for Aston Villa.

Dibu Martínez’s 2023/24 Season:

• 56 games
• 34 wins
• 11 draws
• 11 losses
• Copa América champion with just one goal conceded

“I’ve always dreamed of representing Argentina. It’s been a long road to get here. It’s an honor for me, and I’m very proud. When I’m on the field, I want to win. Off the field, I’m a father, a brother, a son. I’m very different. On the field, I do everything for my national team and Aston Villa.”

Foto: Franck Fife/AFP

Lamine Yamal Wins the Kopa Trophy as Best Young Player

At just 17, Lamine Yamal won the award for the best player under 21. He is the youngest player to win the Kopa Trophy, given to the best under-21 player since 2018 by “France Football.”

The Barcelona forward won the Euros, being one of Spain’s standout players, considered by many as the best for Spain in the tournament, scoring once and providing four assists, and was named the tournament’s best young player.

Foto: Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters

Jenni Hermoso Wins the Socrates Award

Spain’s national team player advocates for equality in football; in September 2023, she filed a complaint against the president of the Spanish Federation for sexual assault.

The Socrates Award recognizes solidarity actions promoted by football personalities. The Spanish forward filed a complaint against Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation, for sexual assault in September 2023.

Foto: Franck Fife/AFP

Mbappé and Kane Win the Gerd Müller Award

Kane and Mbappé both claimed the 2024 Ballon d’Or’s Gerd Müller trophy. The duo shared the award dedicated to the season’s top scorer for club and country, with both scoring 52 goals in 2023/24. The organization decided to award them both, with no tie-breaking criteria.

Kane, representing Bayern Munich, and Mbappé, playing for PSG, were pivotal for their teams, each scoring 52 goals in the season. Only the Englishman attended the ceremony, while Mbappé stayed away in solidarity with Real Madrid’s decision to boycott the ceremony on Monday.

Foto: AFP

Real Madrid and Barcelona Named Clubs of the Year

Real Madrid was chosen as Club of the Year but did not receive the trophy on stage. The team opted not to send their delegation to the ceremony in Paris as a form of protest against the outcome of the Best Player award. The club was informed just hours before the ceremony that the winner was Manchester City’s Rodri, not the highly favored Vinicius Junior. As a result, Real Madrid opted out of sending a 50-member delegation of players, coaches, and executives.

“If the award criteria did not designate Vinicius as the winner, these same criteria should have designated Carvajal as the winner. Since this was not the case, it is obvious that the UEFA Ballon d’Or does not respect Real Madrid,” the club stated in an official note.

In the women’s category, Barcelona was selected as Club of the Year, with President Joan Laporta accepting the award alongside captain Alexia Putellas.

Real Madrid won the Champions League, Spanish League, and Spanish Super Cup.

 

Written by Henry Miller.