Rodri Wins Ballon d'Or 2024: Man City Midfielder Edges Out Vinicius Junior, Aitana Bonmati Claims Women's Award
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Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been crowned the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, becoming the first Premier League player to win the award since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati also made headlines by securing the women's Ballon d'Or for the second consecutive year.
The awards ceremony took place on October 29, 2024, in Paris, with Real Madrid boycotting the event after learning that Vinicius Junior would not win. Rodri triumphed over Real Madrid players Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal, and Jude Bellingham to claim the prestigious honor.
In response to the announcement, Vinicius took to social media, stating, "I'll do it 10 times if I have to. They're not ready."
Rodri enjoyed an outstanding 2023-24 season, overcoming an ACL injury to help secure Manchester City's fourth consecutive Premier League title and the Euro 2024 trophy with Spain. He became the first defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d'Or since its inception in 1956 and the first Spaniard to win since Luis Suarez in 1960.
Speaking in Spanish, Rodri expressed gratitude to France Football and UEFA, thanking his girlfriend Laura on their anniversary and acknowledging his family and teammates for their support.
Previous Premier League Ballon d'Or Winners:
- 1956: Stanley Matthews (Blackpool)
- 1964: Denis Law (Manchester United)
- 1966: Bobby Charlton (Manchester United)
- 1968: George Best (Manchester United)
- 2001: Michael Owen (Liverpool)
- 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
- 2024: Rodri (Manchester City)
Bonmati's victory comes after an impressive season, contributing significantly to Barcelona's success in La Liga F and the women's Champions League. She was the clear favorite, having led her team to multiple titles, including the World Cup.
In other awards, Carlo Ancelotti was named men's coach of the year, while former Chelsea coach Emma Hayes took home the women's award after guiding the USA to Olympic gold.
Real Madrid was named men's club of the year, but the club's delegation chose to skip the ceremony, citing disrespect over the voting criteria. They argued that if Vinicius wasn't recognized, then Carvajal should have been awarded instead.
Emiliano Martinez retained the Yashin Trophy as the best goalkeeper, having played a crucial role in Argentina's Copa America victory and Aston Villa's successful season.
In addition, Barcelona's Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21, marking a memorable year for the club as they also took the women's club of the year title after their Champions League triumph.
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