The Manchester City player was crowned this Monday, October 28 in Paris. He succeeds the Argentinian Leo Messi. An edition marked by the boycott of Real Madrid, from which no player made the trip.
Spaniard Rodrigo Hernández Bibula Cascante, Rodri, won the 2024 edition of the Ballon d'Or, the trophy awarded each year to the best footballer in the world. The Spanish midfielder from Manchester City finished ahead of the Madrilenians Dani Carvajal, Jude Bellingham and especially the striker Vinicius announced as the big favorite in an evening marked by controversy and the boycott of Real Madrid, a club which had five players in the top 10 but ultimately no one rewarded.
“No player or club knows on Monday afternoon who won” the trophy, said the organizers. “All clubs and players are in the same boat” and therefore Real cannot know whether or not one of its players will be crowned.
The complete 2024 list
Kopa Trophy (best player under 21): Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona / Spain).
Best women's club: FC Barcelona (Spain).
Best men's club: Real Madrid (Spain).
Gerd Muller Trophy (top scorer): Harry Kane (Bayern Munich / England) and Kylian Mbappe (Paris SG / France).
Yachine Trophy (best goalkeeper): Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa / Argentine).
Socrates Prize (footballers’ commitment): Jennnifer Hermoso (Tigres Monterey / Spain)
Cruyff Trophy (best male and female coach of the year): Emma Hayes (Chelsea / United States) and Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid).
Women's Ballon d'Or: 1. Aitana Bonmati (FC Barcelona / Spain) 2. Caroline Graham Hansen (FC Barcelona / Norway) 3. Salama Paralluelo (FC Barcelona / Spain).
Men's Ballon d'Or: 1. Rodri (Manchester City / Spain), 2. Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid / Brazil), 3. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid / England).
Real Madrid upset
Annoyed, Real, who were hoping for a tenth Ballon d'Or, shunned the ceremony, once the rumor began to spread that Rodri had beaten Vinicius, despite the three-way secrecy desired by the organizers, France Football magazine, which awards the prestigious award, and UEFA its partner. No representative of the club therefore went up to receive the trophy for the best men's club of the year, rewarding the White House.
“If the award criteria do not designate Vinicius as the winner, these same criteria should designate Carvajal as the winner. As this was not the case, it is obvious that the UEFA Ballon d'Or does not respect the Real Madrid. And Real Madrid is not where it is not respected.”declared the Madrid club, winner of the Champions League in 2024.
The criteria combine footballing qualities, track record and impact on the season of their club and their selection, as well as the charisma of the players. Real won the C1, the most prestigious club title, and were crowned champions of Spain. Defender Dani Carvajal, scorer in the final against Borussia Dortmund (2-0), like Vinicius, added Euro-2024 with Rodri.
The Manchester City midfielder was also champion, in England, for the fourth year in a row, but stopped in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where the “Citizens” were eliminated by… Real Madrid.
6/10 for Real Madrid
The organizers of the Ballon d'Or decided to innovate this year by keeping the identity of the winner secret until the end to avoid any leaks to the press. In previous years, the winner was revealed a few days before the prize was awarded. All the nominees were thus invited to the ceremony organized this evening in Paris.
The Ballon d'Or is awarded after the vote of a jury of journalists representing the top 100 nations in the Fifa rankings. Real have won six of the last ten Ballons d'Or with Cristiano Ronaldo (4), Luka Modric and Karim Benzema.
Double for Aitana Bonmati
Among the ladies, things were much less lively, FC Barcelona player Aitana Bonmati was crowned for the second year in a row. The 26-year-old midfielder was however threatened in particular by her teammates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo or the American Sophia Smith.
Champion of Spain, winner of the Champions League with Barça, she also won the Nations League with the Spanish selection to sign an exceptional season with a new campaign with 26 goals and 21 assists in 57 matches. She is the second player to win this title twice, awarded since 2018.
