Rodri and Bonmati win Ballon d’Or as Madrid snub Paris gala

Manchester City midfielder Rodri won the men’s Ballon d’Or and Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bonmati took the women’s award as a ‘disrespected’ Real Madrid boycotted the prestigious ceremony in Paris despite being named men’s club of the year. Rodri beat the Real Madrid trio of Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal and Jude Bellingham to the top honour, and that verdict from the 100-strong panel of voters led the delegation from the Spanish giants.

Rodri has been crowned the best player in the world – Getty Images/Franck FifeManchester City midfielder Rodri claimed the men’s Ballon d’Or award over Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, who snubbed the event.Vinicius was the favourite to win the top honour, decided by journalists from the top 100 countries in the Fifa rankings. But in the final presentation of the evening and with ‘Vini’ calls from the crowd inside the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Rodri won football’s most prestigious individual prize.On the night, there was no delegation from Madrid, despite the club winning club of the year, Carlo Ancelotti winning the men’s coach of the year award, and Kylian Mbappe sharing the Gerd Muller trophy alongside England and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane.Reacting on X, Vinicius wrote: “I’ll do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready.”Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bonmati took the women’s Ballon d’Or while Emma Hayes won coach of the year after leading Chelsea to the WSL title and the USA to gold at the Paris Olympics.Rodri enjoyed an excellent year, helping Spain to glory at the Euros while also lifting the Premier League trophy for a fourth consecutive season with City.The 28-year-old was helped onto the stage on crutches after his season-ending knee ligament injury in September.

Speaking in Spanish, Rodri said: “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.“Also my family, of course. The values they have taught me and all they represent in me, for having taught me the right steps to take and for helping be become the man I am.“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 national team and Luis (de la Fuente, coach), for trusting me for so long, I have to mention my team-mates with whom we won the Euros. This is not just for me but for Spanish football.”

Elsewhere, Rodri’s international team-mate Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best Under-21 player after helping Spain to a perfect Euro 2024 campaign, winning all seven games en route to lifting the trophy.Jennifer Hermoso was awarded the Socrates Award for her role in the fight for women’s rights in football and her courageous stance against sexism in sport and Emiliano Martinez won the Yashin Trophy as the men’s goalkeeper of the year for a second year running, having helped Argentina lift the Copa America and Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League.11:00 PM GMTThe best in the world
Women’s Ballon d’Or: Aitana Bonmati
Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal
Men’s Coach of the Year: Carlo Ancelotti
Women’s Coach of the Year: Emma Hayes
Yashin Trophy: Emiliano Martinez
Men’s Club of the Year: Real Madrid
Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona

Gerd Muller Trophy: Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe10:21 PM GMTVinicius Junior reacts: ‘I’ll do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready’Rodri reactsIncredible night for me tonight. I’ve so many thanks to so many people. For France Football and UEFA, and for those who voted for me, who put their trust in me. It is very special for me, and my family, for the values they have taught me. For helping me become the man I am. Who would have thought I’d be here? This is a victory for Spanish football.When I was 17-year-old I packed up my suitcases and I went to Villarreal with a dream to work in the Premier League, and 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.

Rodri is presented the Men’s Ballon d’Or by George Weah – Shutterstock/Mohammed Badra10:08 PM GMTCarlo Ancelotti reacts to his win tonightGMTFirst Premier League winner since 2008Rodri has ended England’s long wait for a Ballon d’Or winner. The last player was Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rodri holds up his Ballon d’Or award – Getty Images/Franck Fife09:52 PM GMTAn outstanding season for RodriRodri won the Premier League, Super Cup, Club World Cup and European Championship.He was named player of the tournament at the Euros, selected in the PFA team of the year and holds the longest unbeaten streak in club football with 74 matches.Fully deserved recognition.

𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞, 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥!

📌YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@serendibnews
📌Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/serendibnews.com.au/
📌Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/serendibnewsau
📌TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@serendibnews
📌Twitter- https://x.com/SerendibNewsAu
📌LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/serendib-news-au/
📌WhatsApp Group – https://tinyurl.com/2as67j52
📌WhatsApp Channel – https://tinyurl.com/bdf8f2jr