Manchester City’s midfielder Rodri has been awarded the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or following a remarkable 2023-24 season. The Spanish international was instrumental in securing Manchester City’s fourth consecutive English Premier League title, combining defensive resilience with precise passing that kept his team on top.
Rodri’s impact extended beyond his club, as he also played a decisive role for the Spanish national team, leading them to victory at the 2024 Euros in Germany with a 2-1 win over England in July. Named “Player of the Tournament”, the 28-year-old defensive midfielder finished the season with 14 assists and 10 goals across all competitions, underscoring his versatility and influence on the field.
Rodri’s triumph makes him the first Premier League player to win the Ballon d’Or since Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 victory with Manchester United. Following the announcement, his City teammate Ilkay Gundogan expressed his delight on social media, stating, “From today on, he is finally not ‘underrated’ anymore. Congratulations to my teammate Rodri on winning the Ballon d’Or! This is very well deserved, especially for a defensive player. Rodri is the perfect midfielder, unmatched in his position.”
Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr. of Real Madrid was also in contention for the award and finished second, with his teammate Jude Bellingham taking third place. Meanwhile, Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona Femeni secured the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second consecutive year.
Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti received the Johan Cruyff Trophy as men’s coach of the year, while Emma Hayes, former Chelsea coach, was honored as women’s coach of the year after guiding Team USA to Olympic gold. Real Madrid was named men’s club of the year, Barcelona’s young star Yamine Lamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best male player under 21, and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez took home the Lev Yashin Trophy for the second time.
