Who would've thought a midfielder would ever win the Ballon d'Or again? The 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris unfolded with some drama as Manchester City's Rodri claimed football's most coveted individual prize. Unsurprisingly, the achievement has pulled both celebration and controversy. Either way, the Spanish international's triumph marks a historic moment, becoming the first Premier League player to win the award since Cristiano Ronaldo's victory in 2008.
Rodri's Successful Season
The 28-year-old's path to Ballon d'Or glory had a couple of remarkable achievements both at club and international level. As the backbone of Manchester City's midfield, Rodri played an instrumental role in securing the club's fourth consecutive Premier League title. Beyond domestic football, he also emerged as the standout performer in Spain's triumphant Euro 2024 campaign, earning the Player of the Tournament award.
"A very special day, for me, my family and my country," said Rodri, who attended the France Football ceremony on crutches due to a recent anterior cruciate ligament injury. "I understand that because I have no social media, people don't know me much. I am just a normal guy who enjoys the sport and tries to be a good person."
The golden ball is not only a win for Rodri, but also another for Spanish football. The midfielder became only the second Spanish male player to lift the prestigious trophy, following Luis Suárez's victory in 1960.
Madrid's Protest and Vinicius Controversy
Let's talk about the drama surrounding the 2024 Ballon d'Or announcement. Spanish giants Real Madrid, probably still recovering from a humiliating El Clásico outing, staged a complete boycott of the ceremony. The protest was because their star forward Vinicius Junior, who was widely considered the frontrunner for the award after his exceptional season leading Real Madrid to a Liga and Champions League double, missed out on the big prize.
The Brazilian, who shockingly finished second in the voting ahead of teammate Jude Bellingham, had contributed to Madrid's success with 24 goals and 11 assists across 39 matches. Real Madrid had a clear stance as it stated to AFP, "If the award criteria doesn't give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner... Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected."
What Could This Victory Mean for Football?
Despite the controversy around his Ballon d’Or feat, Rodri winning the award could signal something new in the world of football. The victory could begin a shift away from the traditional focus on attacking players in Ballon d'Or voting. The Spanish midfielder's triumph finally acknowledges how important it is to be able to control games from the middle of the park, combining good defense with precise distribution. Who knows? Things might just be coming back to normal in this post-Messi and Ronaldo era.
Meanwhile, the evening also saw Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati retain her women's Ballon d'Or gong. Real Madrid, despite their absence, were honored as the men's team of the year, with Carlo Ancelotti securing the coach of the year award. At least, Los Blancos had something to go home with despite the bigger, debatable "snub.