Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, known as Rodri, won the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or, while Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bonmati took home the women’s award.
The Ballon d’Or is an annual football award presented by the French magazine France Football since 1956. It honours the best-performing football player over the previous season.
Real Madrid, named men’s club of the year, boycotted the ceremony in Paris, feeling “disrespected” by the outcome.
Rodri triumphed over Real Madrid players Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal, and Jude Bellingham for the top honour.
In response to the announcement, Vinicius posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I’ll do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready.”
Despite suffering an ACL injury in September against Arsenal, Rodri had a standout season, winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title and lifting the Euro 2024 trophy with Spain.
He was named Best Player at Euro 2024, even though he had to leave the final against England at halftime.
Rodri arrived on stage using crutches due to his injury and made history as the first defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d’Or since its inception in 1956.
He is also the first Spaniard to win the award since Luis Suarez of Barcelona in 1960.
Rodri went 74 games and 475 days without experiencing defeat for club and country, with his last Premier League loss occurring in February 2023 against Tottenham. Speaking in Spanish, Rodri said (via <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13243654/rodri-wins-ballon-dor-2024-man-city-midfielder-pips-vinicius-junior-to-crown-as-barcelona-star-aitana-bonmati-wins-womens-award">Sky Sports</a>):
<blockquote>
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 me 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.
</blockquote>
Real Madrid were named the men’s club of the year. In a statement reported by Spanish newspaper AS, the club said:
<blockquote>
If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to (Dani) Carvajal as the winner.
As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or does not respect Real Madrid. Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.
</blockquote>
Lionel Messi holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or wins, with eight awards, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with five.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Rodri won the Ballon d'Or for 2024, which is a big soccer award. He plays for Manchester City and is a very good player. Real Madrid, a soccer team, felt upset because they did not win. Rodri won over players from Real Madrid and others. He won many games without losing, which is very impressive. Rodri thanked many people for his award, including his family and teammates. Real Madrid was named the best team, but they were not happy. The record for most Ballon d'Or wins is held by Lionel Messi, with eight awards.

Rodri Wins 2024 Ballon d'Or

Lionel Messi won the men’s Ballon d’Or for a record-extending seventh time on Monday, ending the year in style after a brilliant final season with Barcelona and earning his first major international trophy with Argentina. 
Alexia Putellas became the third winner of the women’s award for an outstanding season with Barcelona and Spain.
The 34-year-old Messi led Argentina to the Copa America title in July after losing in four major international finals. 
<h2>List of all winners during the 2021 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony:</h2>
<ul>
<li>Kopa trophy (best player under 21) – Barcelona’s Pedri</li>
<li>Best Striker of the Year award – Lewandoski</li>
<li>Women’s Ballon d’Or 2021 – Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas</li>
<li>Yachine Trophy 2021 – PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma</li>
<li>Men’s Ballon d’Or 2021 – PSG’s Lionel Messi.</li>
<li>Club of the Year award – Chelsea</li>
</ul>
<h2>Full list of all Ballon d’Or winners (from 1956-2021)</h2>
<ul>
<li>1956_Stanley Matthews, Blackpool</li>
<li>1957_Alfredo Di Stefano, Real Madrid</li>
<li>1958_Raymond Kopa, Real Madrid</li>
<li>1959_Alfredo Di Stefano, Real Madrid</li>
<li>1960_Luis Suarez, Barcelona</li>
<li>1961_Omar Sivori, Juventus</li>
<li>1962_Josef Masopust, Dukla Prague</li>
<li>1963_Lev Yashin, Dynamo Moscow</li>
<li>1964_Denis Law, Manchester United</li>
<li>1965_Eusebio, Benfica</li>
<li>1966_Bobby Charlton, Manchester United</li>
<li>1967_Florian Albert, Ferencvaros</li>
<li>1968_George Best, Manchester United</li>
<li>1969_Gianni Rivera, AC Milan</li>
<li>1970_Gerd Muller, Bayern Munich</li>
<li>1971_Johan Cruyff, Ajax</li>
<li>1972_Franz Beckenbauer, Bayern Munich</li>
<li>1973_Johan Cruyff, Barcelona</li>
<li>1974_Johan Cruyff, Barcelona</li>
<li>1975_Oleg Blokhin, Dynamo Kiev</li>
<li>1976_Franz Beckenbauer, Bayern Munich</li>
<li>1977_Allan Simonsen, Borussia Moenchengladbach</li>
<li>1978_Kevin Keegan, Hamburg SV</li>
<li>1979_Kevin Keegan, Hamburg SV</li>
<li>1980_Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern Munich</li>
<li>1981_Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern Munich</li>
<li>1982_Paolo Rossi, Juventus</li>
<li>1983_Michel Platini, Juventus</li>
<li>1984_Michel Platini, Juventus</li>
<li>1985_Michel Platini, Juventus</li>
<li>1986_Igor Belanov, Dynamo Kiev</li>
<li>1987_Ruud Gullit, AC Milan</li>
<li>1988_Marco van Basten, AC Milan</li>
<li>1989_Marco van Basten, AC Milan</li>
<li>1990_Lothar Matthaeus, Inter Milan</li>
<li>1991_Jean-Pierre Papin, Marseille</li>
<li>1992_Marco van Basten, AC Milan</li>
<li>1993_Roberto Baggio, Juventus</li>
<li>1994_Hristo Stoichkov, Barcelona</li>
<li>1995_George Weah, AC Milan</li>
<li>1996_Matthias Sammer, Borussia Dortmund</li>
<li>1997_Ronaldo, Inter Milan</li>
<li>1998_Zinedine Zidane, Juventus</li>
<li>1999_Rivaldo, Barcelona</li>
<li>2000_Luis Figo, Real Madrid</li>
<li>2001_Michael Owen, Liverpool</li>
<li>2002_Ronaldo, Real Madrid</li>
<li>2003_Pavel Nedved, Juventus</li>
<li>2004_Andriy Shevchenko, AC Milan</li>
<li>2005_Ronaldinho, Barcelona</li>
<li>2006_Fabio Cannavaro, Juventus-Real Madrid</li>
<li>2007_Kaka, AC Milan</li>
<li>2008_Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United</li>
<li>2009_Lionel Messi, Barcelona</li>
<li>2010_Lionel Messi, Barcelona</li>
<li>2011_Lionel Messi, Barcelona</li>
<li>2012_Lionel Messi, Barcelona</li>
<li>2013_Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid</li>
<li>2014_Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid</li>
<li>2015_Lionel Messi, Barcelona</li>
<li>2016_Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid</li>
<li>2017_Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid</li>
<li>2018_Luka Modric, Real Madrid</li>
<li>2019_Lionel Messi, Barcelona</li>
<li>2020_Cancelled</li>
<li>2021_Lionel Messi, Barcelona</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-in/sports/other/ballon-d-or-2021-full-results-full-list-of-all-winners-during-the-awards-ceremony/ar-AARhJHf?ocid=uxbndlbing&amp;pfr=1">MSN</a>

Lionel Messi Wins Men's Ballon d'Or For A Record-extending 7th Time

The English Premier League dominates the 30-man shortlist for this year’s Ballon d’Or as no fewer than 14 stars from England’s top flight vie for football’s most prestigious prize.
The award — given to the year’s best footballer — was cancelled last year owing to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lionel Messi, Jorginho and N’Golo Kante have been named on the 30-man shortlist for the men’s 2021 Ballon d’Or award.
Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi ended his wait for a major international trophy when winning the Copa America with Argentina in the summer, while Kante and Jorginho both helped Chelsea win the Champions League.
Kante was UEFA’s Player of the Match in both semi-final legs against Real Madrid, as well as the final against Manchester City, while Jorginho was also integral to Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph.
Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski missed out on the 2020 award, with the 33-year-old widely expected to claim the individual award before it was cancelled by organisers.
Ballon d’Or shortlist
Premier League: Cesar Azpilicueta, Kevin de Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Phil Foden, Jorginho, Harry Kane, N’Golo Kanté, Romelu Lukaku, Riyad Mahrez, Mason Mount, Mohamed Salah, Raheem Sterling
Serie A: Nicolo Barella, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Simon Kjaer, Lautaro Martinez
LaLiga: Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Gerard Moreno, Pedri, Luis Suarez
Ligue 1: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Neymar
Bundesliga: Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/ballon-dor-list-leaked-messi-favourite/">The Herald</a>, <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12428357/ballon-dor-shortlist-lionel-messi-robert-lewandowski-jorginho-and-ngolo-kante-among-30-nominees">Sky Sports</a></h4>

Ballon d'Or shortlist: Messi, Kante Among 30 Nominees

Manchester City and Belgium midfield maestro, Kevin De Bruyne has said that he is very close to challenging the Ballon d’Or.
De Bruyne says that he has been in contention for the top 30 in the world for quite some time now and this has given him the motivation to keep going. Sky Sports asked him on how far he thinks he was from challenging the Ballon d’Or and the City talisman responded:
<blockquote>[I’m] probably not too far. But who am I to decide that? I just try to be the best I can be. I’ve been playing well over the last few years and even last season, I had a lot of injuries but the times that I was on the pitch, I was doing OK. Even in Germany, I had good years and I felt happy, but who decides [the best footballers], I don’t know, but I think I’m pretty close.
It helps [being nominated for the Ballon d’Or], but first and foremost is team performance. I know if the team performs well and I perform with them, I will get the accolades. 
</blockquote>
The playmaker who has been one of the valuable players for City in the most recent seasons believes that he has evolved over the years to become a mature version of himself and a complete footballer.
More: <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/de-bruyne-im-pretty-close-to-challenging-for-ballon-dor/rouhy5cvmukc13v3g46h1qo8q">Goal.com</a>

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