Ballon d'Or 2024: Rodri wins after the controversy, ahead of Vinicius

A landmark moment for Rodri. The Spanish midfielder has won the 2024 Ballon d'Or. It is a huge surprise for the football world, which had been expecting Vinicius Junior to win. Rodri, champion of England with Manchester City and Euro winner with Spain, as well as player of the tournament, is the first midfielder to win the award since Luka Modric (2018). He is also the first Spaniard to win the trophy since Luis Suarez in 1960. Even so, the result, announced early in the evening, is getting the football bubble talking. For all his talent, Manchester City's number 16, whose trophy haul was played up, could or even should have finished behind Carvajal, who also won the Euro on top of the Champions League, La Liga, the European Super Cup and the Spanish Super Cup. He is "only" 4th. Above all, the designated favourite was none other than Vinicius.

The latter was the most decisive player of 2024, with 24 goals and 11 assists. On top of that, the Brazilian picked up several titles: La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup, the European Super Cup and, above all, the Champions League, where he was named best player after outsized performances, notably a double against Bayern in the semi-final and a goal in the final against Dortmund. Jude Bellingham, who was sensational last year, finishes 3rd.

The first words of our 2024 Ballon d'Or, Rodri! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/HbcPorxTlp

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024

Real Madrid rewarded

Despite boycotting the ceremony, Real Madrid still picked up awards. First, the Spanish side took the club of the year prize for 2024. Kylian Mbappé won the Gerd Müller Trophy, awarded to the top scorer of the past season for club and country (52 goals, level with Harry Kane). Carlo Ancelotti was named coach of the year and so takes home the Johan Cruyff Trophy. He finished ahead of Xabi Alonso and Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente.

Ademola Lookman saves Africa's blushes

In the 2024 Ballon d'Or rankings, the only African player in the top 30 is Ademola Lookman. The Nigerian won the Europa League with Atalanta, who beat Leverkusen 3-0 in the final (the German club's only defeat in all competitions last season), and he scored a memorable hat-trick. With Nigeria, the Super Eagle reached the final of the 2023 AFCON. All of that helped him finish 14th in the rankings.

It is a fine showing for the 26-year-old, who was nominated for the Ballon d'Or for the first time. He did not match the 8th place achieved by his compatriot Victor Osimhen last year, though. And with a little under two months to go until the African Player of the Year award is presented, Lookman could benefit from being the only African representative in the Ballon d'Or rankings to steal a march on his rivals. Of note, South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams finished 9th for the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper of the year.

Lamine Yamal wins the Kopa Trophy

Who else but Lamine Yamal to lift the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best player under 21? The Spanish prodigy, who has just turned 17, has been performing miracles for months, both with FC Barcelona and with Spain. Spain were able to draw on his talents to win Euro 2024. Yamal succeeds Jude Bellingham on the roll of honour. Yamal also finished 8th in the Ballon d'Or. At 17 years and 107 days, he becomes the youngest ranked player since Florian Albert in 1959.

Aitana Bonmati wins again

Aitana Bonmati remains the undisputed queen of women's football. The FC Barcelona player won the 2024 Ballon d'Or, retaining the title she won last season. Among her honours, she won La Liga and the Champions League. She matches her team-mate Alexia Putellas, who won in 2021 and 2022.

Aitana, again... it's yours! 🤩#ballondor pic.twitter.com/FEVdBghvhm

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024