Spanish midfielder Rodri, from Manchester City (England), won the Ballon d’Or, which rewards the best of the 2023/2024 season, this Monday (28) in a ceremony held at the Théâtre du Châtelet, in Paris (France). Brazilian Vinicius Júnior, from Real Madrid (Spain), ended up finishing second in the awards, while Englishman Jude Bellingham, also from the Spanish team, secured third place.
HERE IS THE 2024 BALLON D’OR RANKING! #ballondor @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/3aPyAe5yAr
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
Rodri, who won the award for the first time, was instrumental in helping his team win their fourth consecutive Premier League title. Furthermore, he was named the best player at this year’s European Championship after Spain won their record fourth title. The 28-year-old Madrid native is the first defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d’Or since Germany’s Lothar Matthaus in 1990 and the third Spaniard to win the award, after Alfredo Di Stéfano (1957 and 1959) and Luis Suárez (1960). .
In the vote, which only counts on votes from sports journalists, he surpassed among others Vinicius Júnior, who appeared with great favoritism after a 2023/2024 season in which he scored 24 goals and provided nine assists in 39 matches for Real Madrid, winning the titles of Champions League, Spanish Championship and Spanish Super Cup.
Among women, the honor of taking home the Ballon d’Or trophy also went to an athlete from Spain, midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, who was an important player in winning the Champions League with Barcelona (Spain) and the World Cup with your country.
Women’s Ballon d’Or! THE @FCBfemeni business! 💙❤️#ballondor @UWCL @weuro2025 pic.twitter.com/DolFfvBbRr
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
Ballon d’Or
The Ballon d’Or is an award given by France Football magazine. It had its first edition in 1956. Initially it was only given to players born in Europe. However, from 1995 onwards, athletes from outside Europe who worked on the Old Continent also began to be considered in the awards.
In 2006, the range of candidates increased further, considering athletes who worked outside of Europe. The biggest winner in the history of the Ballon d’Or is Argentine star Lionel Messi, who has already taken home eight of these trophies. The second biggest winner is the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, with five achievements.
Only four players born in Brazil have ever received the honor: Kaká (2007), Ronaldo (1997 and 2002), Rivaldo (1999) and Ronaldinho Gaúcho (2005).
*With information from Reuters news agency.
