Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí have been named winners of the 2024 Ballon d’Or at football’s annual awards ceremony in Paris, their trophies handed out at the end of a peculiar day in which Real Madrid’s delegation chose not to attend.
In Rodri’s case, the award honored an exceptional year in which the influential Manchester City and Spain midfielder secured the Premier League and European titles, along with the Club World Cup. Despite his achievements, Real Madrid’s contingent, who were expected to attend, decided against traveling after learning that their forward, Vinícius Júnior, had narrowly missed out on the prize.
Rodri, currently sidelined with a long-term anterior cruciate ligament injury, ascended the stage with the aid of crutches. Since joining Manchester City five years ago from Atlético Madrid, the 28-year-old holding midfielder has become indispensable. He is the first non-forward to win the men’s prize since Luka Modric in 2018. “An incredible night for me,” Rodri said after receiving the trophy from George Weah, a previous winner who had a brief stint at City in 2000. “Today is a very special day, not just for me but for my family and my country.” He edged out Vinícius for the top spot, with the Brazilian’s Madrid teammate, England’s Jude Bellingham, finishing third. Carlo Ancelotti, the Madrid manager, won the men’s Johan Cruyff award as the top manager.
Bonmatí became the second player to retain the women’s award since its inception in 2018, following in the footsteps of her Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas. The playmaker played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s Liga F and Champions League double, as well as Spain’s victory in the women’s Nations League earlier this year. “What drives me to be here is the winning mentality that we have as a team and a national team, it’s what leads you to these successes,” Bonmatí said. The runner-up Caroline Graham Hansen and third-placed Salma Paralluelo completed a full Barca podium.
The ceremony was held during a women’s international window, restricting the number of shortlisted players and coaches able to attend. Emma Hayes, who won the award for women’s coach of the year, accepted it remotely two days before her USA national team faced Argentina. Real Madrid’s apparent snub meant nobody was present to collect their award for men’s club of the year. Barcelona received the women’s equivalent, with club president Joan Laporta joined on stage by a few players.
The Gerd Müller award for the top men’s goalscorer last season was shared by Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé, but Mbappé was absent to collect his trophy. Similarly, Ancelotti did not arrive to pick up his gong. Rodri’s national team colleague Lamine Yamal kicked off the evening by winning the Kopa trophy, awarded to the best player under 21. At 17, he became the youngest recipient of the accolade. Other winners included Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who won the Lev Yashin trophy, and Spain forward Jenni Hermoso, who won the Socrates award for off-field charity or humanitarian work.
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