Rodri of Manchester United and Spain has won the Ballon d’Or, soccer’s most prestigious individual award. He beat Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal and Jude Bellingham all of Real Madrid to the award. Barcelona’s playmaker, Aitana Bonmati took the women’s top award for the second consecutive year.
Rodri had a sensational season in 2023/2024 where he helped Manchester City lift an unprecedented fourth consecutive premier league title and also inspired the Spanish national team to European glory. He was named Player of the Tournament in Germany last summer.
He is the first premier league player to win the award since Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United in 2008.
Meanwhile Carlos Ancelotti of Real Madrid won Men Coach of the year award after guiding Real Madrid to European glory while Emma Hayes won the Women Coach of the year after leading the USA to Olympic Gold.
Lamal Yamin of Barcelona won the Kopa Trophy–award given to the best male player under the age of 21.
Emiliano Martinez of Argentina and Aston Villa won the Yashin Trophy for Best Goal Keeper again after inspiring Argentina to Copa America glory.
Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe shared the Gerd Muller Trophy after the pair both scored 52 goals.
Real Madrid won the Best Club of the year award but there was nobody to accept. They decided to boycott the award after news leaked that one of their leading candidate, Vinicius Junior has been beaten to the Golden ball by Rodri.
Ademola Lookman of Atalanta and the Super Eagles of Nigeria came a respectable 14th and the only African player to reach the final round of voting.
