Spain's Rodri and Bonmatí win Ballon d'Or awards as Real Madrid boycott ceremony
Spanish midfielders Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí were awarded the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or on Monday, recognizing them as the top soccer players in the world. Meanwhile, Real Madrid chose to boycott the high-profile ceremony in Paris, seemingly in protest.
Rodri, aged 28, received this esteemed accolade for the first time, having played a pivotal role in Manchester City's Premier League victory and Spain's success in the European Championship.
He succeeded Lionel Messi, an eight-time winner from Argentina, and surpassed Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, who finished in second place, a result that caused significant discontent within the Spanish club. Consequently, Madrid and its players opted to abstain from the event and expressed their dissatisfaction on social media.
Upon hearing his name announced by former winner George Weah, Rodri displayed his emotions by covering his face with his hands.
“It’s an incredible night for me,” stated Rodri, who is sidelined for the season due to an ACL injury sustained last month and attended the ceremony on crutches. “One of my main goals is to continually improve with each game.”
Despite his remarkable skills, Rodri is recognized for his diligent and selfless playing style, and he promptly redirected the accolades towards his teammates.
He expressed his gratitude once more to those who appreciate his contributions to the sport, stating, “As a child, I never envisioned winning the Ballon d’Or, but in recent years, I have been competing at the highest level.”
The 26-year-old Bonmatí successfully defended her title after playing a pivotal role in Barcelona's triumphs in the Spanish league, the Spanish cup, and the Champions League. She joined her teammate Alexia Putellas in securing two titles since the inception of the women's trophy in 2018. Bonmatí outperformed her teammates Caroline Graham Hansen from Norway and Salma Paralluelo from Spain, as Barcelona achieved a remarkable 1-2-3 finish.
“It is a privilege to be here once more,” Bonmatí remarked while receiving the award from Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman. “I extend my gratitude to my teammates and the clubs that contribute to my development as a football player each year.”
Despite Jude Bellingham finishing third and Dani Carvajal in fourth place in the voting, and coach Carlo Ancelotti being honored as coach of the year, no representatives from Madrid attended the gala held in central Paris.
Ancelotti opted to share his thoughts on X, as did Vinícius, who was widely regarded as a frontrunner for the award, despite Rodri also having an exceptional season.
“I will do it ten times if necessary,” Vinícius stated in Portuguese. “They are not prepared.”
Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga expressed his views on the voting process, labeling it as “football politics.”
“My brother, you are the best player in the world, and no award can change that,” the France international posted on X, accompanied by a photo of him and Vinícius celebrating together. “Love you, my brother.”
Former Madrid star Karim Benzema, who claimed the Ballon d’Or in 2022, shared a supportive message in French on Instagram, stating “Trop Fort” (“Too Strong”).
Notably, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo—who have collectively won the prestigious individual award 13 times—were contenders for this year’s accolade, marking the first occurrence of this since 2003.
Rodri may not possess the flamboyance or scoring prowess of players like Messi and Ronaldo, yet his impact on Manchester City has been significant due to his defensive protection and precise passing from the backline.
"I strive to be a leader and aim to improve daily by learning from the best," Rodri remarked.
At times, City appeared invincible with him in the lineup, and his remarkable technical skills allowed him to seamlessly integrate into the rapid passing style that proved successful for Spain at Euro 2024. He is the first player from City to receive this accolade.
"He is a player devoid of ego, and his performance level has been outstanding over an extended period," stated Txiki Begiristain, City’s director of football. "The consistency he has demonstrated is a testament to his hard work and commitment."
Bonmatí has scored 19 goals for Barcelona for the second consecutive season and has netted five goals in five matches for Spain this year, bringing her international total to 26.
READ ALSO: Aitana Bonmatí Wins 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or, Securing Back-to-Back Victory for Spain
The Ballon d’Or, established by France Football magazine, has been awarded to men since 1956 and to women since 2018. The voting process involves journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings.
Each journalist, one per country, ranks ten players, with points assigned based on their positions. The player with the highest points total is declared the winner. Unlike FIFA’s annual awards for the best players, fan votes are not included in this process.
In a successful evening for Spanish and Barcelona players, young talent Lamine Yamal—who is the youngest scorer in European Championship history—received the Kopa award for the best Under-21 player, while Barcelona was honored as the best women’s team.
Real Madrid, despite their absence, was recognized as the best men’s team.
Former PSG forward Kylian Mbappé and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane jointly received the Gerd Müller award for the most goals scored for club and country last season, totaling 52. Mbappé transferred to Madrid during the offseason.
Argentina’s penalty-saving expert Emiliano Martínez retained the Lev Yashin award for the best goalkeeper.
Ancelotti and Olympic champion coach Emma Hayes were honored with the Johan Cruyff award for the best coaches in the men's and women's categories, respectively.
Spanish forward Jenni Hermoso, recognized for her efforts against sexism in Spanish football following an incident where she was kissed on the lips by former federation president Luis Rubiales during the previous year's Women's World Cup final, received the Socrates award for her humanitarian contributions.
Additionally, France Football presented a special award to the wife and son of the late German football legend Franz Beckenbauer.
READ ALSO: Rodri Wins 2024 Ballon d'Or Award
SportsLigue