Man City's Rodri WINS men's Ballondl d'Or 2024, As Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati WINS Women's Award

• Manchester City midfielder Rodri have emerged winner of the men's Ballon d'Or and Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bonmati took the women's award for a second year running at the award ceremony on Monday night at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

• The ceremony recognises the best footballers in the world and and is voted for by a jury of journalists from each of the top 100 countries in the Fifa men's world rankings.

• Two new gongs were introduced - the Johan Cruyff Trophy for the Best Men's Coach of the Year and Women's Coach of the Year.

• This year’s Ballon d’Or list is dominated by players from the Spanish national team which won the Euro 2024 in the summer and the Real Madrid team that won the UEFA Champions League.

It happened that Rodri beat competition from Real Madrid's trio of Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal to the top gong, and that verdict from the 100-strong panel of voters led a "disrespected" Real Madrid representatives boycott the prestigious ceremony.

Vinicius Jr. had been the favourite to claim the award won by Lionel Messi last year after winning the World Cup with Argentina, but neither Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo on the 30-man shortlist this time around.

The Brazil international scored 24 times in all competitions last season, including in the Champions League final, as Madrid won La Liga and claimed top honours in Europe. 

But there was anger in Madrid and he, Perez, and the club's entire entourage did NOT travel for the ceremony after learning that Vini didn't win it but Rodri did.

Vinicius finished second, with Jude Bellingham in third.

Bellingham became the first Englishman to finish in the top three of the voting since Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in 2005.

Having helped Man City to the Treble in 2023, Rodri finished fifth in last year's Ballon d'Or last year.

His continued success with City, but ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in September against Arsenal.

He enjoyed the standout season of his career in 2023-24, winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title and lifting the Euro 2024 trophy with his country Spain.

The 28-year-old won the Best Player award from the tournament in Germany last summer despite being forced off at half-time in the final against England.

 

Rodri is the first player in the Man City's history to win the Ballon d'Or, as he was helped onto the stage after arriving on crutches, having been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Speaking in Spanish, Rodri said: "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... Said Rodri, who was presented the award by 1995 winner George Weah.

"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 victory is not just for me but for Spanish football, for so many players who have not won it and have deserved it, like Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Iker Casillas, Sergio Busquets, so many others."

Asked about the ACL injury that will rule him out of for the season, he said: "I am just trying to take care of myself. Rest, enjoy the free time with my family and come back stronger."

Remarkably, Rodri also went 74 games and 475 days without losing any single game for both club and country during the past year, with the only run coming to an end in the FA Cup final against rivals Man United in Wembley last May.

The last time Rodri lost a Premier League game was a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham in February 2023.

Rodri becomes the first defensive midfielder to win the award, stretching back to 1956, while he is the first Spaniard to do so since Luis Suarez of Barcelona in 1960.

He also becomes the third player to win the accolade while playing for a Premier League club since Cristiano Ronaldo won it at Man United in 2008, and Michael Owen at Liverpool on 2001, the last British player to triumph.

On the other hand, Barcelona and Spain star Bonmati won the women's Ballon d'Or award for a second year in a row.

The 26-year-old Barca playmaker had been the clear favourite for the award after starring in both La Liga F and the women's Champions League, in which Barcelona lifted the trophy for the third time in four years last season.

Bonmati's double success follow on from clubmate Alexia Putellas winning the award two years in a row. 

In other categories, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti Carlo Ancelotti won the first-ever Johan Cruyff Trophy as men's Coach of the Year.

Under Ancelotti, Real Madrid won La Liga by 10 points last season as well as the Spanish Super Cup, while they also triumphed in the Champions League  winning their 15th title in the competition.

While English coach Emma Hayes collected the women's version for her work with Chelsea and, latterly, the start of her tenure as USA boss. 

The 48-year-old led Chelsea to their fifth Women's Super League (WSL) title in a row before ending her 12-year tenure to take on the USA job and leading the USWNT to Olympic gold in the summer.

Los Blancos were also named the best men's Club of the Year, but no Real Madrid representatives was at the venue to pick up the award.

Barcelona won the women's club of the year after beating Lyon in last season's Women's Champions League final for their third European title in four years.

Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane shared the Gerd Muller trophy given to the top goalscorer of the year, as both players finished last season with 52 goals, but only Kane was on present to collect his award.

"Thank you to my club Bayern Munich, all my staff, team-mates, for helping me score all the goals I scored," the England captain said. 

"It's an honour to take this award from a club legend (Karl-Heinz Rummenigge), thank you very much."

Lamine Yamal became the youngest player in history to make it to the top-10 of the Ballon d'Or rankings, finishing in 8th place.

There was little surprise when the Kopa Trophy was awarded to Yamal as the best male player under the age of 21.

The Barcelona and Spain teenage forward became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Euros when, four days shy of his 17th birthday, he scored for Spain in their 2-1 semi-final win over France, before going on to eventually lift the trophy.

Three of the last four winners of the Kopa Trophy are all Barcelona players.

Yamal followed in the footsteps of Pedri and Gavi in claiming the U21 award.

The Top Three Kopa Trophy Rankings:

1 - Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)

2 - Arda Guler (Turkey, Real Madrid)

3 - Kobbie Mainoo (England, Man United)

Elsewhere, Emiliano Martinez retained the Yashin Trophy as the world's best goalkeeper in 2024, an award which is selected by former Ballon d'Or winners.

The Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper was honoured with the award for the second consecutive year. He becomes the first player to win the goalkeeping award twice in a row.

Martinez played an integral role last season as his country won the Copa America. He kept a clean sheet in five of the six games, including the final, as they beat Colombia 1-0.

The 32-year-old also kept 15 clean sheets for Villa in all competitions, (8 clean sheets) on that Premier League as his side qualified for the Champions League.

Unai Simon came second after winning the Euros with Spain, with Andriy Lunin of Real Madrid in third for his performances covering for the injured Thibaut Courtois.

"Winning once is an honour, back-to-back is something I never expected," said Martinez.

Ballon d'Or top 10:

Rodri (Spain and Manchester City)

Vinicius Jr (Brazil and Real Madrid)

Jude Bellingham (England and Real Madrid)

Dani Carvajal (Spain and Real Madrid)

Erling Haaland (Norway and Manchester City)

Kylian Mbappe (France and PSG/Real Madrid)

Lautaro Martinez (Argentina and Inter Milan)

Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)

Toni Kroos (Germany and Real Madrid)

Harry Kane (England and Bayern Munich)