There we have it. After a surprisingly controversial day, Rodri has been named in 2024 Ballon d’Or winner
The Manchester City midfielder claimed the award for the first time and became the first Premier League player to win the Ballon d’Or since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. After an outstanding 2023/24 campaign in which he won the Premier League and the Euros 2024, the 28-year-old beat Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior to the award.
However, the night was not without drama. The reports had surfaced earlier on Monday who claimed that Madrid’s Vinicius and the rest of the club’s representatives would not attend the ceremony after suspecting that Rodri would be crowned champion. These reports turned out to be true.
Unsurprisingly, the news ruffled some feathers online.
BREAKING: Vinicius Jr will NOT travel to Paris because Real Madrid knows he will NOT win the Ballon d’Or.
No one from Real Madrid will attend the ceremony. Neither Florentino Pérez, nor Vini Jr, nor Carlo Ancelotti, nor 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 d’Or is one of the biggest steals in football history. 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 shout: “The Ballon d’Or belongs to Vinicius!”
Others say: “Rodri should take it home!”
Meanwhile, Messi at home today when they announce that he has won it again: pic.twitter.com/Jn1uLjYo3w
— Footy Humor (@FootyHumour) October 28, 2024
Madrid’s intelligence was accurate as Rodri became the first midfielder to win the award since Luka Modric in 2018. As much as it was a significant outrage from certain corners, there were many who felt that Rodri was a worthy winner.
The Man City ace enjoyed a truly remarkable 2023/24 campaign and few can dispute that the Spaniard is the best midfielder in the world.
OFFICIAL: RODRI WINS THE GOLDEN BALL 2024!
Vinicius Jr, second in the ranking. pic.twitter.com/rCwa7zjpY6
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 28, 2024
Rodri was MUCH more consistent than Vinicius all season. He had a lot less bad games, and he had a lot more great games. His floor was much higher.
He played from exceptional to very well in every tournament, both for club and country.
No one more deserving.
— All Things Brazil™
(@SelecaoTalk) October 28, 2024
Rodri in the 23/24 season by the way. No one was as consistent as he was #Rodri4BallonDor pic.twitter.com/vx1l9UGWKo
— 17 (@DxBruyneSZN) October 28, 2024
Rodri is the best player in the world. No one is consistently brighter. 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 handed out at the ceremony in Paris.
The Women’s Ballon d’Or was awarded to Aitana Bonmati for the second consecutive year after his sensational season with Barcelona. The midfielder was the heavy favorite for the award and equaled teammate Alexia Putellas’ record of two wins.
Aitana Bonmatí wins back-to-back Ballon d’Or!
She just keeps getting better!
pic.twitter.com/kT6BbqZzcU
— 90min (@90min_Futbol) October 28, 2024
AITANA BONMATÍ WINS HER SECOND BALLON D’OR
pic.twitter.com/eocMlTkMHM
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 28, 2024
HE’S DONE IT AGAIN! Aitana Bonmati wins his second Ballon d’Or in a row! The queen of football continues to show that she is on another level. pic.twitter.com/nNvGyAYJ63
— Labib Choudhury (@iamlabibchy) October 28, 2024
The Blaugrana men’s team had another winner in the form of Lamine Yamal he got the Kopa Trophy to the best young player, while Emiliano Martínez collected the Yashin trophy as the first goalkeeper for the second year in a row.
Lamine Yamal wins the Kopa Trophy 2024!
Another milestone for an extraordinary talent!
pic.twitter.com/F5UWRhr1ck
— 90min (@90min_Futbol) October 28, 2024
Lamine Yamal
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) October 28, 2024
Emiliano retains his title and wins the Yashin Trophy 2024!!
pic.twitter.com/kidJrOAokJ
— 90min (@90min_Futbol) 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 take an honor of his own, winning the Gerd Muller Trophy with more goals scored last season. Kylian Mbappe produced the same number and also won, but the Frenchman was under strict orders from his club not to attend the ceremony.
Harry Kane
Kylian Mbappé
They are our winners of the Gerd Muller Trophy
Both finished the 23-24 season with 52 goals! #GerdMuller trophy #ballondor pic.twitter.com/CiHMuIKQEF
— Golden Ball (@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 ranking. Their PR is a joke. He has to hire someone.
— B. (@InvertTheWing) October 28, 2024
