Manchester City midfielder Rodri has made history by becoming the first Premier League player to win the Ballon d’Or since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. He narrowly edged out Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior for the prestigious award,
Despite being sidelined for the season with an ACL injury, Rodri’s exceptional performance during the 2023-24 campaign led to his recognition. He helped Manchester City secure their fourth straight Premier League title and played a pivotal role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, earning the tournament’s Best Player award.
Real Madrid chose to boycott the awards ceremony in Paris, feeling disrespected after their players Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal, and Jude Bellingham were not awarded. Rodri’s victory highlights a remarkable season where he went 74 games and 475 days without a loss in club and international play.
In his acceptance speech, Rodri expressed gratitude to France Football, UEFA, and his family, dedicating the award to his girlfriend Laura on their anniversary. He also praised his teammates at Manchester City and the Spanish national team for their contributions.
Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati has won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second consecutive year. The 26-year-old playmaker was a strong favorite for the award after her outstanding performances in La Liga F and the women’s Champions League, where Barcelona claimed the title for the third time in four years last season.
England internationals Lucy Bronze, Lauren James, and Lauren Hemp were all nominated, with James achieving the highest finish among them in 13th place.
Bonmati’s achievement follows her clubmate Alexia Putellas’s two-year reign as winner. Over the past 18 months, Bonmati has also celebrated victories in both the World Cup and Champions League.
Barcelona dominated the awards, securing all three top positions, which included Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo.
In addition, Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid received the Johan Cruyff Trophy for men’s coach of the year, while Emma Hayes earned the women’s equivalent after leading the USA to Olympic gold.
Real Madrid was awarded the title of men’s club of the year, while Kylian Mbappé missed the opportunity to collect the Gerd Müller trophy, which he shared with Harry Kane, because of Real Madrid’s delegation boycott.
Kane expressed gratitude to Bayern Munich, his club, as well as to his staff and teammates for their support in helping him achieve his goal-scoring success. He acknowledged the significance of receiving the award from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, a respected figure and club legend at Bayern, indicating that it was a special honor for him.
Meanwhile, the Kopa Trophy for the best male player under 21 went to Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, recognized for his historic scoring at the European Championships. The forward made history as the youngest goalscorer in European Championships history by netting a goal for Spain in their 2-1 semi-final victory against France, just four days before his 17th birthday, and then went on to lift the trophy.
Barcelona secured the title of women’s club of the year after defeating Lyon in last season’s Women’s Champions League final, marking their third European title in four years.
Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez secured the Yashin Trophy as the world’s best goalkeeper for the second year running, following an impressive season that included a Copa America win with Argentina and 15 clean sheets for his club. Unai Simon finished in second place after helping Spain win the Euros, while Andriy Lunin from Real Madrid took third for his performances in place of Thibaut Courtois.
Jennifer Hermoso received the Socrates Award at the Ballon d’Or Gala, recognizing her commitment to social equity and inclusion. The award celebrates her role as a prominent figure in women’s football, particularly following Spain’s historic World Cup win on August 20, 2023, which was marred by the actions of former RFEF president Luis Rubiales, leading to an ongoing judicial process.
On the red carpet, she emphasized the importance of role models for young girls, stating, “We fight for girls to have those role models and a beautiful path.” She acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed determination to cultivate future talent.
Hermoso also noted the growing participation of women in sports, asserting that football’s prominence benefits all sports and expressing pride in inspiring young girls, as seen during recent matches.
The Socrates Award, established in 2022, previously honored players like Mané and Vinicius Junior for their impactful community initiatives. Hermoso is the latest recipient, continuing the tradition of recognizing athletes who advocate for social change.