Manchester City midfielder Rodri made history by becoming the first defensive midfielder to win the men’s Ballon d’Or, while Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati captured the women’s award at a ceremony marked by Real Madrid’s conspicuous absence in Paris.

Rodri, who arrived on crutches due to an ACL injury sustained against Arsenal in September, became the first Spaniard to claim the prestigious award since Barcelona’s Luis Suarez in 1960. The 28-year-old’s remarkable year included a Premier League title with Manchester City and a Euro 2024 triumph with Spain, where he earned the tournament’s Best Player award despite being forced off at halftime in the final against England.

“Today is a very special day for me and for my family, my country,” Rodri said in Spanish during his acceptance speech. “Manchester City is so special, I know I wouldn’t make this without you. For me it is the best club in the world.”

The midfielder’s extraordinary 2023-24 season included an impressive 74-game unbeaten run for club and country, spanning 475 days before finally ending in the FA Cup final against Manchester United last May.

Real Madrid’s Protest

The Spanish giants boycotted the ceremony despite being named men’s club of the year, citing disagreement with the voting results. Real Madrid’s trio of Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal, and Jude Bellingham were all in contention for the top honor.

In a statement to Spanish newspaper AS, the club declared: “If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to 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.”

Vinicius Junior responded to the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “I’ll do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready.”

Bonmati Leads Barcelona Sweep

In the women’s category, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati secured her second consecutive Ballon d’Or after an outstanding season that included both La Liga F and Champions League victories. The 26-year-old playmaker led a Barcelona sweep of the top three positions, with Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo completing the podium.

Other Awards

– Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid) – Johan Cruyff Trophy for men’s coach of the year
– Emma Hayes (former Chelsea coach) – Women’s coach of the year following USA’s Olympic gold
– Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane – Shared the Gerd Muller trophy with 52 goals each
– Yamine Lamal (Barcelona) – Kopa Trophy for best male player under 21
– Emi Martinez (Aston Villa) – Retained the Yashin Trophy as world’s best goalkeeper
– Barcelona – Women’s club of the year

The ceremony marked a significant shift in football’s hierarchy, with Rodri’s victory coming after the end of the Ronaldo-Messi era, during which the two stars had dominated the award for over a decade. The last Premier League player to win the men’s Ballon d’Or was Cristiano Ronaldo with Manchester United in 2008.