The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony, held at the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris, sparked outrage after Rodri of Spain and Manchester City won the night’s top prize ahead of Real Madrid and Brazil’s Vinicius Junior.
Vinicius, who finished second, followed by Jude Bellingham, was widely expected to win the men’s award, but Rodri emerged as the leading contender, with Madrid boycotting the awards ceremony in France.
“I just want to say thank you again to the people who recognize my value in the game,” he said. “When I was a kid I never thought of winning the Ballon d’Or, but in the last years I’ve been playing the highest level.”
Vinicius reacted on X saying, “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”
Aitana Bonmati of Spain and Barcelona took home the Feminin award for the second consecutive year.
Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe shared the Gerd Muller Trophy for being the season’s top scorer, while Carlo Ancelotti was named the men’s coach of the year. Emma Hayes was named the Johan Cruyff award for best manager in the women’s game.
Spain’s 17-year-old wonder kid, Lamine Yamal, was voted the Kopa Trophy winner, while Aston Villa and Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez scooped the Yashin Trophy. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona Femení won the Team of the Year award in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.
Barbra Banda becomes highest ever ranked African female
Meanwhile, Zambia and Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda became the highest-ever ranked African female footballer in the Ballon d’Or feminin, finishing 12th.
She broke the record set by Nigeria’s Asisat Oshaola, who finished 16th in 2022 and 20th in 2023 before missing out this year.
Others from Africa: Malawi and Lyon’s Tabitha Chawinga was ranked 16th, and South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Ronwen Williams, the first African goalkeeperkeeper to be nominated while playing for an African club, made the top ten shortlist, finishing ninth in the Yashin Trophy race.
Nigerian and Atlanta winger Ademola Lookman, the only African nominee for the men’s Ballon d’Or, came in 14th place.
