The biggest moments of the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony saw two Spanish superstars, Aitana Bonmati and Rodri emerge as recipients of the Women and Men awards for best players.
Bonmati, who plays for both the Spain Women’s National Team and FC Barcelona Feminine was crowned for a second consecutive year, while Rodri picked-up his first golden orb.
The 2024 Euro champion and Manchester City star, came to he event in crutches following a surgery from the injury he sustained early on his season.
Rodrigo Hernández Bibula Cascante aka Rodri. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
While the Women’s category might have seen less drama, the debate over who was deserving of the individual award in he Men’s category had attracted interests over the weeks preceding Monday night.
Real Madrid’s Brazilian star, Vinicius Jr. and Three Lions midfielder,.Jude Bellingham were considered genuine contenders and heavily tipped.
Eventually though, none of the Real Madrid players nominated for the awards made it to Paris, as the club boycotted the event in protest.
Despite the organizer’s best attempt to keep it secret until its announcement, news filtered of a winner that was not a Los Merengues.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman came in 14th in the final voting, ranking ahead of Nico Williams, Federico Valverde, Bukayo Saka and Antonio Rudiger.
Ademola Lookman with his family attend the 68th Ballon D’Or Photocall at Theatre Du Chatelet in Paris. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Lookman is the only African to make the short list for Ballon d’Or nomination this year.
But, there was another African presence at the award ceremony, and in the running for a first ever Yasin Trophy.
Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams of South Africa. (Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Ronwen Williams ranked 9th overall in that category as Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez picked up his second golden glove award.
Other Winners:
Kylian Mbappe (Gerd Müller Trophy)
Lamine Yamal (Kopa Trophy)
Carlo Ancelotti (Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy)
Emma Hayes (Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy)
Real Madrid (Men’s Club of the Year)
FC Barcelona (Women’s Club of the Year)
Jenni Hermoso (Sócrates Award)
