Breaking – Rodri wins Ballon d’Or 2024: Man City midfielder pips Vinicius Junior to crown
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been crowned the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, becoming the first Premier League player in 16 years since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008 to receive the prestigious award.
This accolade marks a significant milestone in Rodri’s career, highlighting his exceptional performance over the past year.
A Stellar Season
Rodri’s 2023-24 season was nothing short of remarkable. Despite suffering an ACL injury in September against Arsenal, he played a pivotal role in Manchester City‘s success, securing their fourth consecutive Premier League title.
The 28-year old was instrumental in Spain’s triumph at Euro 2024, where he was named the Best Player of the tournament in Germany, even though he was forced off at half-time in the final against England.
Unbeaten Streak and Historic Win
Rodri’s resilience was evident as he went 74 games and 475 days without experiencing defeat for both club and country. This impressive run ended in the FA Cup final against Manchester United last May.
The last time Rodri lost a Premier League game was a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham in February 2023. He becomes the first defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d’Or since its inception in 1956, and the first Spaniard to do so since Luis Suarez of Barcelona in 1960.
Vinicius Junior and Other Contenders
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior was widely expected to win his first-ever Ballon d’Or.
However, reports emerged that Real Madrid’s entourage would not be attending the ceremony at the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris, indicating that Rodri would be the recipient of the award.
This decision has sparked discussions among football fans and analysts alike.
Other Notable Winners
The ceremony also celebrated other outstanding achievements in football.
Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second consecutive year, recognizing her exceptional contributions to the sport.
Former Chelsea Women boss Emma Hayes was named women’s coach of the year, further highlighting the strides made in women’s football.
Karim Benzema’s win in 2022 – then a Real Madrid player – came after Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had won all but one of the previous 13 titles between them. Messi won the award for the eighth time last year after inspiring Argentina’s World Cup heroics in Qatar.
English Top-flight Ballon D’or Winners
- 1956 – Stanley Matthews – Blackpool
- 1964 – Denis Law – Manchester United
- 1966 – Bobby Charlton – Manchester United
- 1968 – George Best – Manchester United
- 2001 – Michael Owen – Liverpool
- 2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United
- 2024 – Rodri – Manchester City
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