Spain’s Aitana Bonmati, a midfielder for Barcelona, claimed the women’s award for the second time. The 24-year-old has been a pivotal player for both club and country, showcasing her exceptional talent and consistency.
The men’s award went to Rodri, a Spanish defensive midfielder who plays for Manchester City. This was his first time winning the award, and his achievements over the past year have been remarkable. Rodri played a crucial role in Manchester City’s unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title win last season. Additionally, he was named the best player at the 2024 European Championship, where Spain dominated and lifted their fourth title.
What makes Rodri’s win even more significant is that he is the first defensive midfielder to claim the Ballon d’Or since 1990, and only the third Spaniard to do so. His unique skillset and impact on the field have been instrumental in Manchester City’s dominance in England and Spain’s recent success in Europe.
It’s worth noting that Spanish league players have historically dominated this award, but it’s been over 60 years since a Spaniard last won it, despite Spain’s golden generation that won the World Cup and multiple European Championships. Rodri’s win breaks this long-standing drought, and he dedicated his award to the country’s football and the often-underrated role of the midfielder.
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| Soccer star Rodri, a Spanish midfielder for Manchester City, proudly holds the Ballon d’Or award. His win marks a significant achievement for both himself and Spanish football. Photo: Reuters |
“This award is not just for me, but for Spanish football and the many deserving players who never received this honor, such as Iniesta, Xavi, Iker Casillas, Sergio Busquets, and numerous others,” Rodri expressed during the ceremony. He continued, “It’s a victory for the often-unseen work of midfielders, and I’m grateful to be able to bring their contributions to light.”
Rodri, a humble and dedicated individual, also shared, “I’m just a regular guy with values, who studies and tries to do things right. I don’t conform to stereotypes, and yet here I am at the top, and it’s all thanks to the support and opportunities I’ve received.”
Breaking the Messi-Ronaldo Dominance
For over a decade, the Ballon d’Or has been largely dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Rodri’s win marks the third time since 2008 that someone other than these two legends has claimed the award. Notably, neither Messi nor Ronaldo made the final 30-man list of nominees this year, which hasn’t happened since 2003.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, failed to receive a nomination for the second year in a row, following his move to Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Messi, who holds the record for most Ballon d’Or wins with eight, was also not nominated despite Argentina’s Copa America victory.
Rodri’s impressive record over the past 18 months includes just one loss, which was an unexpected FA Cup final defeat by Manchester United last season.
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| Rodri, accompanied by Laura Iglesias, arrives at the Ballon d’Or ceremony. His exceptional talent and achievements have been recognized beyond the football pitch. Photo: Reuters |
Spain’s dominance in football continued with Lamine Yamal winning the Kopa Trophy for the best Under-21 player. Yamal played a crucial role in Spain’s perfect Euro 2024 campaign, where they won all seven games en route to becoming champions.
The women’s game also saw another Spanish winner, with Aitana Bonmati claiming the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second consecutive year. Jennifer Hermoso, another Spanish player, received the Socrates Award for her courageous stance against sexism in sport and her active role in fighting for women’s rights in football.
Notably, Real Madrid decided to boycott the ceremony as they anticipated their player, Vinicius, would not win the men’s award. As a result, no one from the club was present when they were announced as the winners of the men’s club of the year award, and their manager, Carlo Ancelotti, was named the men’s coach of the year. On the other hand, Barcelona received the women’s best club award, as both Spanish giants dominated the European and Spanish leagues last season.
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