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There we have it. After a surprisingly controversial day, Rodri has been named the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.
The Manchester City midfielder claimed the prize for the first time and became the first Premier League player to triumph in the Ballon d’Or since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. Following an exceptional 2023/24 campaign in which he won the Premier League and Euro 2024, the 28-year-old beat Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior to the award.
However, the evening wasn’t without some drama. Reports had emerged earlier on Monday that claimed Madrid’s Vinicius and the club’s other representatives wouldn’t attend the ceremony after suspecting that Rodri would be crowned champion. Said reports turned out to be true.
Unsurprisingly, the news ruffled a few feathers online.
🚨 BREAKING: Vinicius Jr will NOT travel to Paris as Real Madrid know he will NOT win the Ballon d’Or.
No one from Real Madrid will attend the ceremony. No Florentino Pérez, no Vini Jr, no Carlo Ancelotti, no Jude Bellingham. pic.twitter.com/qN9PaYjmR0
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 28, 2024
Rodri winning the Ballon D’or over Vini J…..ridiculous
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) October 28, 2024
Vinicius not winning the ballon dor is one of the biggest robberies in the history of football. pic.twitter.com/Jcc3T4PrwN
— Janty (@CFC_Janty) October 28, 2024
Rodri wasn’t even the best Spanish player last season pic.twitter.com/OcfnD6yDwg
— Trey (@UTDTrey) October 28, 2024
Some are shouting: “The Ballon d’Or belongs to Vinicius!”
Others are saying: “Rodri should take it home!”
Meanwhile, Messi at home today when they announce he’s won it again: pic.twitter.com/Jn1uLjYo3w
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) October 28, 2024
Madrid’s intel was accurate as Rodri became the first midfielder to win the award since Luka Modric in 2018. As much as their was significant outrage from certain corners, there were plenty who felt Rodri was a worthy winner.
The Man City ace enjoyed a truly remarkable 2023/24 campaign and few can argue against the Spaniard being the world’s best midfielder.
🚨✨ OFFICIAL: RODRI WINS THE BALLON D’OR 2024! 🇪🇸
Vinicius Jr, second in the rankings. pic.twitter.com/rCwa7zjpY6
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 28, 2024
Rodri was FAR more consistent than Vinicius over the entire season. He had FAR less bad games, and he had FAR more great games. His floor was much higher.
Played exceptional to very well in every single tournament for both club and country.
No-one more deserving.
— All Things Brazil™ 🇧🇷 (@SelecaoTalk) October 28, 2024
Rodri in the 23/24 season btw. No one was as consistent as him #Rodri4BallonDor pic.twitter.com/vx1l9UGWKo
— 17 (@DxBruyneSZN) October 28, 2024
Rodri is the best player in the world. No one is more consistently brilliant. No one is more complete. He deserves the Ballon d’Or. It would be a rare moment of sanity in a sport obsessed with headlines.
— Steven (@StevenMcinerney) October 28, 2024
Rodri Vinicius pic.twitter.com/TkO5kvefBQ
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) October 28, 2024
Of course, the Ballon d’Or wasn’t the only award dished out at the ceremony in Paris.
The Ballon d’Or Femenin was handed to Aitana Bonmati for a second successive year after her sensational season with Barcelona. The midfielder was the significant favourite for the prize and equalled team-mate Alexia Putellas’ record of two victories.
Aitana Bonmatí makes it back-to-back Ballon d’Or wins! 🇪🇸💫
She just keeps getting better! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/kT6BbqZzcU
— 90min (@90min_Football) October 28, 2024
AITANA BONMATÍ WINS HER SECOND BALLON D’OR 💫 pic.twitter.com/eocMlTkMHM
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 28, 2024
SHE’S DONE IT AGAIN! Aitana Bonmati wins her second consecutive Ballon d’Or! The queen of football keeps proving she’s on a whole other level. pic.twitter.com/nNvGyAYJ63
— Labib Choudhury (@iamlabibchy) October 28, 2024
La Blaugrana’s men’s side had another victor in the form of Lamine Yamal as he scooped the Kopa Trophy for best young player, while Emiliano Martinez picked up the Yashin Trophy for leading goalkeeper for the second year in a row.
Lamine Yamal wins the 2024 Kopa Trophy! 🏆🔥
Another milestone for an extraordinary talent! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/F5UWRhr1ck
— 90min (@90min_Football) October 28, 2024
🏆 Lamine Yamal 🏆#TropheeKopa pic.twitter.com/qNpTZveU11
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) October 28, 2024
Emiliano retains his title and wins the Yashin Trophy 2024!! 🧤🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/kidJrOAokJ
— 90min (@90min_Football) October 28, 2024
EMI MARTÍNEZ THE WORLD’S NUMBER ONE…
AGAIN ⭐️⭐️ pic.twitter.com/vWvB3ShhKQ
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 28, 2024
And there was time for Harry Kane to grab an honour of his own, winning the Gerd Muller Trophy for the most goals scored last season. Kylian Mbappe produced the same number and also won, but the Frenchman was on strict orders from his club not to attend the ceremony.
Harry Kane 🤝 Kylian Mbappé
They’re our Gerd Muller Trophy winners ⚽️🎯
Both finished the 23-24 season on 52 goals! #trophéeGerdMuller #ballondor pic.twitter.com/CiHMuIKQEF
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
Harry Kane, the only player to win:
– The International Golden Boot.
– The domestic Golden Boot.
– The European Golden Boot.And finish 10th in the Ballon D’or rankings. His PR is a joke. He needs to hire someone.
— B. (@InvertTheWing) October 28, 2024