- The Ballon d’Or is given by French publication France Football, and it is presented to the best player over the previous season.
- Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d’Or on Monday, October 28.
- Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony as they felt it should have been given to their forward, Vini Jr.
The Ballon d’Or has sparked a lot of controversy this year. The 2024 award was presented on Monday, October 28, in Paris, and the winner was Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri.
However, Real Madrid decided as a club that they would not attend the ceremony as they believe it should have gone to Real forward Vinicius Junior.
Rodri Takes Home Ballon d’Or After Incredible Season for Club and Country
Rodri made news early in the 2024-2025 season, claiming players were ready to strike due to playing too many games. Then about two weeks later, Rodri tore his ACL playing for Manchester City in a game against Arsenal, and he is likely out for the season. However, that didn’t stop Rodri from winning the Ballon d’Or for 2024.
During the 2023-2024 campaign, Rodri was fantastic for both Manchester City and Spain. He played 34 of 38 games for City as they won their fourth straight Premier League title, scoring a career-high eight goals as a defensive midfielder.
The 28-year-old was also key as City won the Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup. However, City lost in the Champions League quarterfinals against Real Madrid (more on them soon) in a thrilling two-legged tie that went to penalties. Manchester City’s win rate drops when Rodri is out of the lineup, and he is the most important player in Pep Guardiola’s team, which is a popular soccer parlay pick among the public.
Rodri was also instrumental as Spain rolled through Euro 2024, and he moved up the Ballon d’Or odds after he was named Player of the Tournament. While Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams earned plaudits for their attacking play, Rodri, as he is for City, is the glue that binds everything together.
Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí won her second straight Ballon d’Or Feminin, while Barça and Spain winger Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21 years old. Yamal turned 17 in the middle of Euro 2024.
Should Vini Jr. Have Won the Ballon d’Or?
Meanwhile, Real Madrid won Men’s Club of the Year, but they weren’t at the ceremony to receive the award. Madrid decided they would boycott as they felt their winger, Vini Jr., wouldn’t win the Ballon d’Or.
To his credit, Vini Jr. was terrific for Real Madrid last season, scoring 24 goals in 39 goals across all competitions. He scored six goals in 10 Champions League, including twice in Germany against Bayern Munich in the semifinal, and once against Borussia Dortmund in the final.
But Vini Jr. wasn’t the same player for Brazil, scoring just twice in the 2024 Copa América, and they were both in a group-stage game against Paraguay. Brazil lost to Uruguay on penalties in the quarterfinals at Copa América, which may have counted against Vini Jr.
This led to many Brazilian players being upset, including Richarlison and the legendary Marta. Real Madrid teammate Eduardo Camavinga claimed that “football politics” were at play in Vini Jr.’s award snub.
However, the Ballon d’Or is usually given to attacking players that you’d see in soccer player props. The last defensive-minded player to win the award was Italy and Real Madrid’s Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.
Before that, it was Germany and Borussia Dortmund’s Matthias Sammer in 1996. The defensive-midfielder role is crucial in football, and Rodri is the best in the world at that position, so it’s fair that he got the award.
