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Rodri wins Ballon d’Or as Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid snub event
Manchester City midfielder Rodri claimed the men’s Ballon d’Or award over Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, who snubbed the event.
Vinicius was the favourite to win the top honour, decided by journalists from the top 100 countries in the Fifa rankings. But in the final presentation of the evening and with ‘Vini’ calls from the crowd inside the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Rodri won football’s most prestigious individual prize.
On the night, there was no delegation from Madrid, despite the club winning club of the year, Carlo Ancelotti winning the men’s coach of the year award, and Kylian Mbappe sharing the Gerd Muller trophy alongside England and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane.
Reacting on X, Vinicius wrote: “I’ll do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready.”
Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bonmati took the women’s Ballon d’Or while Emma Hayes won coach of the year after leading Chelsea to the WSL title and the USA to gold at the Paris Olympics.
Rodri enjoyed an excellent year, helping Spain to glory at the Euros while also lifting the Premier League trophy for a fourth consecutive season with City.
The 28-year-old was helped onto the stage on crutches after his season-ending knee ligament injury in September.
RODRI IS THE 2024 MEN'S BALLON D'OR! #ballondor @ManCity @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/Cly6Uyr08H
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
Speaking in Spanish, Rodri said: “I have so many things to thank people for. First of all to France Football and to Uefa for giving me this award. I would like to thank those who voted for me and put their trust in me. Today is a very special day for me and for my family, my country.
“I would like to thank the most important person in the world for me, my girlfriend Laura. Today is our anniversary and without her things wouldn’t have been the same. Thank you.
“Also my family, of course. The values they have taught me and all they represent in me, for having taught me the right steps to take and for helping be become the man I am.
“I don’t want to forget my team-mates, I understand it is a group game. Manchester City is so special, I know I wouldn’t make this without you. For me it is the best club in the world, and thanks to them things happen much easier.
“The national team and Luis (de la Fuente, coach), for trusting me for so long, I have to mention my team-mates with whom we won the Euros. This is not just for me but for Spanish football.”
Elsewhere, Rodri’s international team-mate Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best Under-21 player after helping Spain to a perfect Euro 2024 campaign, winning all seven games en route to lifting the trophy.
Jennifer Hermoso was awarded the Socrates Award for her role in the fight for women’s rights in football and her courageous stance against sexism in sport and Emiliano Martinez won the Yashin Trophy as the men’s goalkeeper of the year for a second year running, having helped Argentina lift the Copa America and Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League.
11:00 PM GMT
The best in the world
10:48 PM GMT
Rodri’s team mate Ilkay Gundogan reacts
From today on he is finally not 'underrated' anymore 😜 Congratulations to my teammate Rodri on wining the Ballon d'Or! For me this is very well deserved! I'm especially happy that someone on a defensive position is winning this title and not always just the offensive players!… pic.twitter.com/MFluK8j1ui
— Ilkay Gündogan (@IlkayGuendogan) October 28, 2024
10:40 PM GMT
In case you need a reminder about why Rodri is a worthy winner
🔵 @ManCity's midfield maestro.
Here are some of Rodri's best moments from last season that earned him one of world football's greatest prizes, the Ballon d'Or 🏆 pic.twitter.com/1CRF79ThTv— Premier League (@premierleague) October 28, 2024
10:30 PM GMT
Tonight’s winners
Men’s Ballon d’Or: Rodri
Women’s Ballon d’Or: Aitana Bonmati
Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal
Men’s Coach of the Year: Carlo Ancelotti
Women’s Coach of the Year: Emma Hayes
Yashin Trophy: Emiliano Martinez
Men’s Club of the Year: Real Madrid
Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona
Gerd Muller Trophy: Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe
10:21 PM GMT
Vinicius Junior reacts: ‘I’ll do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready’
Eu farei 10x se for preciso. Eles não estão preparados.
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) October 28, 2024
10:12 PM GMT
Rodri reacts
Incredible night for me tonight. I’ve so many thanks to so many people. For France Football and UEFA, and for those who voted for me, who put their trust in me. It is very special for me, and my family, for the values they have taught me. For helping me become the man I am. Who would have thought I’d be here? This is a victory for Spanish football.
When I was 17-year-old I packed up my suitcases and I went to Villarreal with a dream to work in the Premier League, and one day I called my father crying telling him it was all over and that I had invested my life to get here and I had the feeling that, this was it.
My father said we had come all the way here, let’s keep going and this is something that changed my mindset and now, here I am. I am a normal boy who never gets carried away with stereotypes. Hard work is what matters.
10:08 PM GMT
Carlo Ancelotti reacts to his win tonight
I want to thank my Family, my President, my Club, my Players and above all Vini and Carvajal. pic.twitter.com/bdMJQmTflx
— Carlo Ancelotti (@MrAncelotti) October 28, 2024
10:05 PM GMT
Vinicius Junior’s team mate Eduardo Camavinga reacts
09:58 PM GMT
First Premier League winner since 2008
Rodri has ended England’s long wait for a Ballon d’Or winner. The last player was Cristiano Ronaldo.
09:52 PM GMT
An outstanding season for Rodri
Rodri won the Premier League, Super Cup, Club World Cup and European Championship.
He was named player of the tournament at the Euros, selected in the PFA team of the year and holds the longest unbeaten streak in club football with 74 matches.
Fully deserved recognition
09:47 PM GMT
Rodri is 2024 Ballon d’Or winner
The Manchester City midfielder has done it. A huge upset. Many expected Vinicius Junior to do it but the Spain international claims the top prize.
Rodri is currently injured after knee surgery so he need crutches and support from Drogba to get on the stage.
09:39 PM GMT
Tenth award of the night - Men’s Ballon d’Or
George Weah, the only African player to ever win the Ballon d’Or, is on stage to present the award.
The winner will come from these four players - Rodri, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham or Dani Carvajal.
And the final three names are not at the ceremony.
09:35 PM GMT
Aitana Bonmati, the world’s best
11 - Aitana Bonmatí was the player with the most goal involvements (11, six goals and five assists) in the UEFA Women's Champions League 2023/24, being also co-leader in assists in the competition along with Caroline Graham Hansen and scoring in the final against Lyon.
Top. pic.twitter.com/mFHSigxb8d— OptaJose (@OptaJose) October 28, 2024
09:23 PM GMT
Real Madrid are angry
No acknowledgement of Real being named club of the year and Carlo Ancelotti’s coach of the year award on their website.
They are very mad which is very petty and funny.
09:15 PM GMT
Ninth award of the night - Women’s Ballon d’Or
Actor Natalie Portman is here to present the award.
And the winner is for the second year in a row... Barcelona and Spain’s Aitana Bonmati! Caroline Graham Hansen 2nd, Salma Paralluelo 3rd and Sophia Smith 4th.
Thank you for the applause, as always I say I can’t be here alone, I’m very fortunate to play with amazing players.
I always say this is not something that you can do alone, I’m so lucky to be surrounded by wonderful players who help me to keep growing into a better player. So thank you to my teammates because without them I wouldn’t be here, I would also like to thank my club and Joan Laporta.
09:11 PM GMT
Eighth award of the night - Men’s Coach of the Year
The nominees are Xabi Alonso (Leverkusen), Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid), Luis de la Fuente (Spain), Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) and Lionel Scaloni (Argentina).
And the winner is... Real’s Carlo Ancelotti! But he is not there to receive. Drogba admits he is disappointed that his former coach is not in Paris.
So awkward!
09:09 PM GMT
Seventh award of the night - Women’s Coach of the Year
The nominees are Sonia Bompastor (Lyon/Chelsea), Arthur Elias (Corinthians/Brazil), Jonatan Giráldez (Barcelona), Emma Hayes (Chelsea/USA); Filipa Patão (Benfica) and Sarina Wiegman (England).
And the winner is... Emma Hayes! She won the WSL in her final season with Chelsea and Olympic gold with USA.
I’m very honoured. My family are very proud to be in this position.
I am a little embarrassed as this is a team game. I am so honoured to coach incredible teams at Chelsea and USA. This is a very proud day.
09:00 PM GMT
Men’s Ballon d’Or rankings - 7th to 5th
Countdown continues for the top men’s award of the night.
7. Lautaro Martinez
6. Kylian Mbappe
5. Erling Haaland
08:59 PM GMT
Sixth award of the night - Socrates award
For her exemplary humanitarian work, advocacy for women’s football and against sexual harassment in the game, the award to given to Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso.
Jennifer Hermoso is the winner of the 2024 Socrates Award!
Congrats, @Jennihermoso 👑 #PrixSocrates with @peaceandsport #ballondor pic.twitter.com/NZD0hjzf5w— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
08:54 PM GMT
Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings - 7th to 5th
Countdown continues for the top women’s award of the night.
7. Marie-Antoinette Katoto
6. Mallory Swanson
5. Lindsey Horan
08:53 PM GMT
Martinez reacts
First of all, thank you all very much. It’s an honour to be back. I’d like to thank my colleagues, my teammates at Aston Villa. They all know how demanding I am.
I come from a very humble place and this is something that makes me want to do better and improve. It is the group effort that makes things happen.
08:47 PM GMT
Fifth award of the night - The Yashin Trophy
The nominees are Diogo Costa, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Gregor Kobel, Andriy Lunin, Mike Maignan, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Emiliano Martínez, Unai Simón, Yann Sommer and Ronwen Williams.
And the winner is... Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez.
Back-to-back winner of the award. I’m not convinced Martinez is the best in the Premier League, let alone the world.
08:44 PM GMT
Madrid boycott
Real Madrid cancelled their delegation’s plans to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony at the last minute as the club understand that their Brazil forward Vinicius Junior will not win the award, according to Reuters.
Vinicius, the Champions League player of the year, was the heavy odds-on favourite to claim his first Ballon d’Or, which is presented to the best player in the world, ahead of Manchester City’s Spain midfielder Rodri, 28, and Real’s England international Jude Bellingham.
But so far tonight there has been no presence from the Spanish club. It means Carlo Ancelotti won’t collect coach of the year award if he wins.
08:38 PM GMT
Men’s Ballon d’Or rankings - 10th to 8th
10. Harry Kane
9. Toni Kroos
8. Lamine Yamal
08:30 PM GMT
Kane reacts
Thank you to my club Bayern Munich, all my staff, teammates, for helping me score all the goals I scored.
It’s an honour to take this award from a club legend, thank you very much.
08:25 PM GMT
Fourth award of the night - The Gerd Müller trophy
This is for the best striker and the winner is.... Harry Kane AND Kylian Mbappe.
Kane walks up to collect his award but with Madrid boycotting the event, Mbappe is not there.
Yikes!
08:20 PM GMT
Beckenbauer tribute
A video tribute now for German football legend Franz Beckenbauer, who died in January.
Beckenbauer’s wife Heidi and Joel come out with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and share their personal memories of the World Cup winner.
A tribute to The Kaizer, Franz Beckenbauer! 👑🇩🇪#ballondor pic.twitter.com/ioQrEoWxb7
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
08:17 PM GMT
Awkward delays
Sound issues mean we’ve already had some weird pauses as guests and presenters can’t hear each other.
Drogba is stood there trying to smile through the awkwardness.
08:14 PM GMT
Third award of the night - Men’s Club of the Year
The nominees are Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Girona, Manchester City and Real Madrid.
And the prize goes to Real after winning the Champions League and La Liga but incredibly there is nobody at the ceremony to collect the award.
They have reportedly snubbed the event amid suggestion Vinicius Junior will not win the men’s prize.
08:11 PM GMT
Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings - 10th to 8th
Countdown begins for the top women’s award of the night.
10. Alexia Putellas
9. Trinity Rodman
8. Mariona Caldentey
08:08 PM GMT
Second award of the night - Women’s Club of the Year
The nominees are Barcelona, Chelsea, Lyon, NJ/NY Gotham and Paris Saint-Germain.
And Barcelona are the winners. President Joan Laporta and Alexia Putellas come on to the stage to accept.
08:02 PM GMT
Lamine Yamal wins
No shock here. The Barcelona forward has had an outstanding year and he’s only 17 and 107 days old.
He is the youngest player to play and score for Spain. Youngest to play, score and win at a European Championship.
And the youngest to win this prize.
07:56 PM GMT
First award of the night - Kopa Trophy
Ruud Gullit comes out and will present the Kopa Trophy.
These are the contenders - Pau Cubarsí, Alejandro Garnacho, Arda Guler, Karim Konaté, Kobbie Mainoo, João Neves, Savinho, Mathys Tel, Lamine Yamal and Warren Zaïre-Emery.
Lamine Yamal has his name all over this I reckon...
07:53 PM GMT
The ceremony has begun!
Time for lots of long speeches, video compilations and awkward banter...
07:49 PM GMT
Big name arrivals in Paris
07:39 PM GMT
WATCH: Rodri arrives on crutches
Rodri from @ManCity! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/ykF5QsNnul
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
07:35 PM GMT
Haaland snubs Ballon d’Or
Erling Haaland won’t be in the room when the Ballon d’Or is awarded after he preferred a trip to Sweden where his friend Erik Botheim can win the league with Malmo FF.
The 24-year-old Manchester City striker was spotted in Malmo this evening ahead of their game against bitter rivals IFK Gothenburg, where a victory would give them their second straight Allsvenskan title and fourth in five years.
Haaland and Botheim became friends while playing for Norway’s junior national team, and they also featured in a rap video together with Erik Sandberg that has been viewed more than 12 million times on YouTube.
07:28 PM GMT
Tonight’s hosts Sandy Heribert and Didier Drogba have arrived
Your hosts of the Ballon d'Or Ceremony... Sandy Heribert & Didier Drogba ! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/EHqvstehhy
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
07:18 PM GMT
One of these 10 players will win the men’s Ballon d’Or
Jude Bellingham
Dani Carvajal
Erling Haaland
Harry Kane
Toni Kroos
Lautaro Martínez
Kylian Mbappe
Rodri
Vinícius Júnior
Lamine Yamal
07:11 PM GMT
Plenty of Premier League recognition in the rankings so far
=29 Mats Hummels (Roma/Germany)
=29 Artem Dovbyk (Roma/Ukraine)
28 Alejandro Grimaldo (Leverkusen/Spain)
27. Vitinha (PSG/Portugal)
26. Declan Rice (Arsenal/England)
25. Cole Palmer (Chelsea/England)
24. William Saliba (Arsenal/France)
23. Rúben Dias (Man City/Portugal)
22. Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid/Germany)
21. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal/England)
20. Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter/Turkey)
19. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal/Norway)
18. Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa/Argentina)
17. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid/Uruguay)
16. Granit Xhaka (Leverkusen/Switzerland)
15. Nico Williams (Athletic/Spain)
14. Ademola Lookman (Atalanta/Nigeria)
13. Dani Olmo (Barcelona/Spain)
12. Florian Wirtz (Leverkusen/Germany)
11. Phil Foden (Man City/England)
06:56 PM GMT
England and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane has arrived
👋 @HKane! 📸#BallonDor #MiaSanMia #FCBayern pic.twitter.com/08oGqbIxMc
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) October 28, 2024
06:48 PM GMT
Garnacho looking glum after his club manager was sacked
06:40 PM GMT
What prizes will be awarded tonight?
The Men’s Ballon d’Or
The Women’s Ballon d’Or
The Kopa Trophy
Pau Cubarsí, Alejandro Garnacho, Arda Guler, Karim Konaté, Kobbie Mainoo, João Neves, Savinho, Mathys Tel, Lamine Yamal andWarren Zaïre-Emery
The Yashin Trophy
Diogo Costa, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Gregor Kobel, Andriy Lunin, Mike Maignan, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Emiliano Martínez, Unai Simón, Yann Sommer and Ronwen Williams
The Men’s Coach of the Year trophy
Xabi Alonso (Leverkusen), Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid), Luis de la Fuente (Spain), Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) and Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)
The Women’s Coach of the Year trophy
Sonia Bompastor (Lyon/Chelsea), Arthur Elias (Corinthians/Brazil), Jonatan Giráldez (Barcelona), Emma Hayes (Chelsea/USA); Filipa Patão (Benfica) and Sarina Wiegman (England).
The Men’s Club of the Year trophy
Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Girona, Manchester City and Real Madrid
The Women’s Club of the Year trophy
Barcelona, Chelsea, Lyon, NJ/NY Gotham and Paris Saint-Germain
The Gerd Müller trophy
06:29 PM GMT
2024 Ballon d’Or
Hello and welcome to coverage for tonight’s 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony with several award up for grabs.
The men’s and women’s best player are the most coveted titles at stake with Man City’s Rodri battling against Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.
“Vinicius had an incredible season where he was a key player... he proved he’s the best player in the world,” Madrid team mate Lucas Vazquez said.
Rodri, who City manager Pep Guardiola has called “the best midfielder in the world”, was instrumental in helping his team win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League trophy last season and was named best player at this year’s European Championship after Spain lifted a record-extending fourth title.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo won football’s most prestigious individual award a combined 13 times over a 16-year period of unprecedented dominance. This year, neither has been nominated.
Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal make up a field of contenders who could challenge for years to come.
The only other winners since Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 were Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022. Both were born in the 1980s.
The Ballon d’Or was created by France Football magazine and has been awarded since 1956. It is voted for by journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings.
Each journalist, one per country, selects 10 players in ranked order, with points attributed to each position. The winner is the player who receives the most points.
On the women’s side, Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí won the 2023 award and is among the favorites again this year. She is set to face competition from Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo, who are team mates at Barcelona — the Champions League winner and Spanish champions.
Stay with us for all the build up and updates!
