Manchester Metropolis midfielder Rodri gained the boys’s Ballon d’Or and Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bonmati took the ladies’s award as a “disrespected” Actual Madrid boycotted the celebrated ceremony in Paris regardless of being named males’s membership of the yr.
Rodri beat the Actual Madrid trio of Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal and Jude Bellingham to the highest honour, and that verdict from the 100-strong panel of voters led the delegation from the Spanish giants to remain at house.
Responding to the announcement, Vinicius posted on X, previously generally known as Twitter: “I’ll do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready.”
Rodri, who picked up an ACL damage in September towards Arsenal, loved the standout season of his profession in 2023-24, profitable a fourth consecutive Premier League title and lifting the Euro 2024 trophy with Spain.
The 28-year-old gained the Greatest Participant award from the event in Germany final summer time regardless of being compelled off at half-time within the remaining towards England.
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The Impartial’s Miguel Delaney and The Mirror’s John Cross focus on Manchester Metropolis’s Rodri profitable the Ballon d’Or and the choice of Actual Madrid to snub the awards ceremony because of this
He was helped onto the stage after arriving on crutches, having been dominated out for the remainder of the season.
Remarkably, Rodri additionally went 74 video games – and 475 days – with out experiencing defeat for membership and nation in the course of the previous yr, with the run coming to an finish within the FA Cup remaining towards Manchester United final Could.
The final time Rodri misplaced a Premier League recreation was a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham in February 2023. He turns into the primary defensive midfielder to win the award, stretching again to 1956, whereas he’s the primary Spaniard to take action since Luis Suarez of Barcelona in 1960.
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Sky Sports activities’ Sam Blitz explains the impact Rodri’s absence could have on Manchester Metropolis’s potential to manage possession
Talking in Spanish, Rodri stated: “I have so many things to thank people for. First of all to France Football and to UEFA for giving me this award. I would like to thank those who voted for me and put their trust in me. Today is a very special day for me and for my family, my country.
“I would like to thank the most important person in the world for me, my girlfriend Laura. Today is our anniversary and without her things wouldn’t have been the same. Thank you.
“Additionally my household, in fact. The values they’ve taught me and all they symbolize in me, for having taught me the best steps to take and for serving to me turn into the person I’m.
“I don’t want to forget my team-mates, I understand it is a group game. Manchester City is so special, I know I wouldn’t make this without you. For me it is the best club in the world, and thanks to them things happen much easier.
“The nationwide group and Luis (de la Fuente, coach), for trusting me for thus lengthy, I’ve to say my team-mates with whom we gained the Euros. This isn’t only for me however for Spanish soccer.”
Rodri’s chipped passes are a function of his recreation for Man Metropolis
The earlier Premier League participant to obtain the accolade was Cristiano Ronaldo, who was at Manchester United in 2008 when he was topped the winner.
Karim Benzema’s win in 2022 – then a Actual Madrid participant – got here after Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had gained all however one of many earlier 13 titles between them. Messi gained the award for the eighth time final yr after inspiring Argentina’s World Cup heroics in Qatar.
Barcelona star Bonmati gained the ladies’s Ballon d’Or award for a second yr operating.
The 26-year-old Barcelona playmaker had been the clear favorite for the award after starring in each La Liga F and the ladies’s Champions League, through which Barcelona lifted the trophy for the third time in 4 years final season.
Aitana Bonmati retained her Ballon d’Or Feminin crown
Lionesses Lucy Bronze, Lauren James and Lauren Hemp have been all on the shortlist, with James ending highest amongst them in thirteenth place.
Bonmati’s double success observe on from clubmate Alexia Putellas profitable the award two years in a row. The 26-year-old gained the World Cup and Champions League – twice – prior to now 18 months.
Barcelona accomplished a clear sweep of the highest three locations, rounded out by Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo.
In the meantime, Actual Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti gained the Johan Cruyff Trophy as males’s coach of the yr whereas former Chelsea coach Emma Hayes collected the ladies’s model having led the USA to Olympic gold in the summertime.
Actual have been named the boys’s membership of the yr whereas Kylian Mbappe additionally missed the prospect to choose up the Gerd Muller trophy he gained collectively with Harry Kane because the Actual Madrid delegation stayed at house.
In an announcement reported by Spanish newspaper AS, the membership stated: “If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to (Dani) Carvajal as the winner.
“As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or does not respect Real Madrid. Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.”
Mbappe and Kane shared the Gerd Muller trophy after each gamers completed final season with 52 objectives, however solely Kane was readily available to collected the award.
“Thank you to my club Bayern Munich, all my staff, team-mates, for helping me score all the goals I scored,” the England captain stated. “It’s an honour to take this award from a club legend (Karl-Heinz Rummenigge), thank you very much.”
Lamine Yamal receives the Kopa Trophy in Paris
There was little shock when the Kopa Trophy – awarded to the perfect male participant below the age of 21 – went to Barcelona‘s teenage star Yamine Lamal.
The ahead grew to become the youngest goalscorer within the historical past of the European Championships when, 4 days shy of his seventeenth birthday, he scored for Spain of their 2-1 semi-final win over France, earlier than occurring to elevate the trophy.
Barcelona gained the ladies’s membership of the yr after beating Lyon in final season’s Girls’s Champions League remaining for his or her third European title in 4 years.
Martinez wins Yashin Trophy once more
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Argentina’s primary Emiliano Martinez has starred for each Arsenal and Aston Villa, here is a number of a few of his most interesting saves throughout his time within the Premier League..
Elsewhere, Emi Martinez retained the Yashin Trophy because the world’s finest goalkeeper in 2024.
The Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper has been honoured for the second consecutive yr with the award introduced to the perfect goalkeeper, which is chosen by former Ballon d’Or winners.
Martinez performed an integral position final season as his nation gained the Copa America. He stored a clear sheet in 5 of the six video games, together with the ultimate, as they beat Colombia 1-0.
The 32-year-old additionally stored 15 clear sheets for Villa in all competitions as his aspect certified for the Champions League.
Unai Simon got here second after profitable the Euros with Spain, with Andriy Lunin of Actual Madrid in third for his performances masking for Thibaut Courtois.
