In an exciting evening in Paris, Manchester City and Spain’s standout midfielder Rodri took home the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, cementing his place as the world’s best footballer in 2024. This marks a significant milestone, as Rodri becomes the first player in Manchester City’s history to claim this award.
At 28, Rodri’s achievements in the past season have been nothing short of extraordinary. He was instrumental in leading Spain to victory in the UEFA Euro 2024 championship this July, and his winning streak extended throughout his club performances with Manchester City. He helped the team secure not just the Premier League title, but also the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.
Rodri claimed the top spot over Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr., while Jude Bellingham, also of Real Madrid, finished third, becoming the highest-placed English player in the rankings since Frank Lampard’s second-place finish in 2005. Real Madrid also earned accolades as the “Club of the Year,” with their manager, Carlo Ancelotti, taking home the “Men’s Coach of the Year” award, though the club notably boycotted the ceremony, reportedly in response to the results for Vinicius.
Rodri, who appeared on stage with crutches after suffering an ACL injury in September, expressed heartfelt gratitude, saying, “A very special day for me, my family, and my country.”
The Ballon d’Or is awarded annually to the best player in the world, as voted on by journalists from each of the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations. Notably, this year’s shortlist was the first since 2003 to not include Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, marking the end of an era. Rodri, who had previously finished fifth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or after contributing to City’s historic Treble, proved his growing influence as he led Spain to the Euro title, even being named “Player of the Tournament” despite an injury that forced him off at halftime in the final against England.
His skill, consistency, and strategic midfield play also resulted in a career-best nine goals for City last season, with crucial late strikes that secured wins and a title-clinching goal in a 3-1 match against West Ham. However, Rodri’s current ACL injury from an October match against Arsenal will likely keep him sidelined for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
The ceremony also recognized other remarkable players. England’s Harry Kane and France’s Kylian Mbappe shared the Gerd Muller Trophy as the top goalscorers, each scoring 52 goals across all competitions last season. Kane accepted the award in person, honoring Bayern Munich for his successful debut season and the legacy of club legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Here’s a look at the Ballon d’Or’s top 10:
1. Rodri (Spain and Manchester City)
2. Vinicius Jr (Brazil and Real Madrid)
3. Jude Bellingham (England and Real Madrid)
4. Dani Carvajal (Spain and Real Madrid)
5. Erling Haaland (Norway and Manchester City)
6. Kylian Mbappe (France and PSG/Real Madrid)
7. Lautaro Martinez (Argentina and Inter Milan)
8. Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)
9. Toni Kroos (Germany and Real Madrid)
10. Harry Kane (England and Bayern Munich)