Rodri beats Vinicius to Ballon d´Or as Real Madrid snub ceremony

Manchester City’s Rodri has won the Ballon d’Or after a sensational year for club and country, beating Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior to the accolade.

Rodri becomes the first Spaniard to win the award since Barcelona’s Luis Suarez back in 1960.

The 28-year-old was an integral part of Manchester City’s unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title triumph, with Pep Guardiola’s side not tasting defeat in the 34 league games that Rodri featured in, winning 27 and drawing seven.

He then kept up his winning habit over the summer as he helped Spain to glory at Euro 2024, and was named the Player of the Tournament, despite being forced off due to injury in the final.

Rodri is expected to miss the remainder of the season as he was forced to undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, and was helped up on stage by Didier Drogba to claim the accolade, with the midfielder having arrived at the ceremony in Paris on crutches.

The Man City star is also the first player to win the Ballon d’Or while playing for an English club since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008.

Vinicius, who was tipped to win the award after netting 24 goals and adding 11 assists in all competitions last term, finished second, with Madrid team-mate Jude Bellingham making up the top three.

Rodriiiiiiiiiii

The 2024 Men’s #ballondor winner! pic.twitter.com/XaR7T9xPS1

— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 28, 2024

Madrid do have a fair amount to celebrate, though.

Carlo Ancelotti was named the winner of the Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy for the best coach, having guided Los Blancos to last season’s LaLiga title as well as the club’s 15th Champions League triumph.

And Madrid were also picked out as the Men’s Club of the Year.

However, there was no one present in Paris to claim the award, with Madrid representatives reportedly boycotting the event after Vinicius’ snub for the Ballon d’Or.

Rodri’s international colleague, Lamine Yamal, scooped the first award of the ceremony, winning the Kopa Trophy, which is awarded to the best player under the age of 21.

Yamal is the first player aged under 18 to win the award. He scored seven goals and added nine assists in his debut season with Barcelona, and has continued his rapid rise after starring in La Roja’s European Championship success.

Yamal already has 11 goal involvements (five goals, six assists) in LaLiga this term, a total only bettered by Barcelona team-mates Raphinha (12) and Robert Lewandowski (16).

Lamine Yamal, the best U-21 player in the world! #tropheekopa pic.twitter.com/2fhGQCtvVp

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 28, 2024

The Gerd Muller Trophy was shared between Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.

The award, given to football’s most prolific forward, was shared for the first time, with both Kane and Mbappe netting 52 goals in all competitions across 2023-24.

Kane enjoyed a fine debut year with Bayern Munich, though his wait for a first major trophy of his career continued, while Mbappe’s final campaign with Paris Saint-Germain ended with two honours.

Emiliano Martinez picked up the Yashin Trophy for a second year running after his performances for Aston Villa and Argentina.

In the Premier League, Martinez kept nine clean sheets, helping Villa clinch qualification for the Champions League for the first time since the 1982-83 season.

He also played a key role in Argentina winning their 15th Copa America title with five shutouts in six games.

Two-time Yashin Trophy winner, Emiliano Martínez #UCL | #ballondor pic.twitter.com/g1P25gHMNz

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 28, 2024