Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been named the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, becoming the first Premier League player in 16 years to scoop the prestigious prize.
Rodri, who picked up an ACL injury in September against Arsenal, enjoyed the standout season of his career in 2023-24, winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title and lifting the Euro 2024 trophy with Spain.
The 28-year-old won the Best Player award from the tournament in Germany last summer despite being forced off at half-time in the final against England.
He was helped on to the stage after arriving on crutches, having been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Remarkably, Rodri also went 74 games – and 475 days – without experiencing defeat for club and country during the past year, with the run coming to an end in the FA Cup final against Manchester United last May.
The last time Rodri lost a Premier League game was a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham in February 2023. He becomes the first defensive midfielder to win the award, stretching back to 1956, while he is the first Spaniard to do so since Luis Suarez of Barcelona in 1960.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr was widely expected to win his first-ever Ballon d’Or.
But news emerged that Real Madrid’s entourage would not be attending the ceremony at the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris, sparking reports that he would be pipped to the prize by City’s midfield maestro.
The previous Premier League player to receive the accolade was Cristiano Ronaldo, who was at Manchester United in 2008 when he was crowned the winner.
Karim Benzema’s win in 2022 – then a Real Madrid player – came after Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had won all but one of the previous 13 titles between them. Messi won the award for the eighth time last year after inspiring Argentina’s World Cup heroics in Qatar.
Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati won the women’s Ballon d’Or award for a second year running.
The 26-year-old Barcelona playmaker had been the clear favourite for the award after starring in both La Liga F and the women’s Champions League, in which Barcelona lifted the trophy for the third time in four years last season.
Lionesses Lucy Bronze, Lauren James and Lauren Hemp were all on the shortlist, with James finishing highest amongst them in 13th place.
Bonmati’s double success follow on from clubmate Alexia Putellas winning the award two years in a row. The 26-year-old won the World Cup and Champions League – twice – in the past 18 months.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti won the Johan Cruyff Trophy as men’s coach of the year while former Chelsea coach Emma Hayes collected the women’s version having led the USA to Olympic gold in the summer.
Real were named the men’s club of the year while Kylian Mbappe also missed the chance to pick up the Gerd Muller trophy he won jointly with Harry Kane as the Real Madrid delegation stayed at home.
In a statement reported by Spanish newspaper AS, the club said: “If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to (Dani) Carvajal as the winner.
“As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or does not respect Real Madrid. Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.”
Mbappe and Kane shared the Gerd Muller trophy after both players finished last season with 52 goals, but only Kane was on hand to collected the award.
“Thank you to my club Bayern Munich, all my staff, team-mates, for helping me score all the goals I scored,” the England captain said. “It’s an honour to take this award from a club legend (Karl-Heinz Rummenigge), thank you very much.”
There was little surprise when the Kopa Trophy – awarded to the best male player under the age of 21 – went to Barcelona‘s teenage star Yamine Lamal.
The forward became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the European Championships when, four days shy of his 17th birthday, he scored for Spain in their 2-1 semi-final win over France, before going on to lift the trophy.
Barcelona won the women’s club of the year after beating Lyon in last season’s Women’s Champions League final for their third European title in four years.
Martinez wins Yashin Trophy again
Elsewhere, Emi Martinez retained the Yashin Trophy as the world’s best goalkeeper in 2024.
The Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper has been honoured for the second consecutive year with the award presented to the best goalkeeper, which is selected by former Ballon d’Or winners.
Martinez played an integral role last season as his country won the Copa America. He kept a clean sheet in five of the six games, including the final, as they beat Colombia 1-0.
The 32-year-old also kept 15 clean sheets for Villa in all competitions as his side qualified for the Champions League.
Unai Simon came second after winning the Euros with Spain, with Andriy Lunin of Real Madrid in third for his performances covering for Thibaut Courtois.
