Ballon D'Or 2024: Manchester City Midfielder Wins Elusive Award Ahead Of Vini Jr, Jude Bellingham
Rodri Wins Ballon D'Or 2024: The Manchester City midfielder brings an end to the duopoly of Lionel Messi and Real Madrid over the award. Read below for more.
Rodri Wins Ballon D'Or 2024: Manchester City star midfielder Rodri has won the Men's Ballon d'Or 2024 award ahead of the likes of Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham. The Spaniard has emerged as the world's best defensive midfielder for the past few years and has enjoyed a stellar past 24 months, where he not only completed his four-peat of Premier League titles, but alongside that, won the club its first ever UEFA Champions League title in 2023.
RODRI IS THE 2024 MEN'S BALLON D'OR! #ballondor @ManCity @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/heWvSQsOxn
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
HERE IS THE 2024 BALLON D'OR RANKING! #ballondor @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/3aPyAe5yAr
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
At the national level, the 28-year-old won Spain their maiden UEFA Nations League title in 2023, before going on to win the nation a record-breaking 4th UEFA Euro title in 2024. For his exceptional exploits in the competition, Rodi was awarded the Player of the Tournament.
It seemed a pretty evident choice that Rodri will win this year's Ballon d'Or after Spain's win, but the rise of Vinicius Jr and the latest injury to Rodri swung the pendulum in the Brazilian's favour, as Rodri has now been ruled out of the season with an ACL injury.
However, a few hours before the ceremony, a huge controversy erupted as famous journalist and football transfer pundit, Fabrizio Romano, broke the news that Real Madrid were made aware of the fact that Vinicius Jr will not be winning this year's Ballon d'Or, and for that reason, none of the club's representatives travelled to Paris for the ceremony.
With the win, Rodi now brings an end to one of the most iconic duopolies in sporting history, as he becomes the first player since Kaka (2007) to win the Ballon d'Or outside of either Lionel Messi, or a player from Real Madrid.
Since 2008, either Lionel Messi (2009; 2010; 2011; 2012; 2015; 2019; 2021; 2023) or a player from Real Madrid (Cristiano Ronaldo - 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017; Luka Modric - 2018; Karim Benzema - 2022) has won the Ballon d'Or, with the exception of 2020, where no ceremony took place due to the then ongoing pandemic of COVID-19.
Here's What Rodri Said During His Award-Winning Speech
After being announced as the winner of Ballon d'Or 2024, Rodri got a bit emotional and needed a stick to walk to the stage, as he is currently suffering from an ACL injury during Manchester City's dramatic 2-2 draw against rivals Arsenal in the Premier League back in September 2024.
In a highly-positive gesture, former Chelsea legend Didier Drogba helped the Spaniard, who was on crutches, on his way to the stage, and during his speech, he said the following:
"A very special day, for me, my family and my country. I would like to tell you an anecdote about the story that led me here. When I was 17-years-old, I packed up my suitcases and I went to Villarreal with a dream to work in the Premier League. One day I called my father crying telling him it was all over and that I had invested my life to get here and I had the feeling that, this was it."
"My father said we had come all the way here, let's keep going and this is something that changed my mindset and now, here I am. I am a normal boy who never gets carried away with stereotypes. Hard work is what matters. I am just trying to take care of myself. Rest, enjoy the free time with my family and come back stronger."
The first words of our 2024 Ballon d'Or, Rodri! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/HbcPorxTlp
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
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