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Doha – Spain’s football stars shone brightly at the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards on Monday night, with Manchester City midfielder Rodri crowned the world’s best male player and Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati retaining the women’s prize.
In a glittering ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, 28-year-old Rodri edged out competition from Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr and teammate Jude Bellingham to become the first Premier League player to win the coveted trophy since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008.
His victory capped a remarkable season in which he helped Man City lift the Premier League title and Spain conquer Euro 2024.
However, Rodri’s triumph was not without controversy. Real Madrid’s delegation, including nominees Vinicius Jr, Bellingham and Dani Carvajal, boycotted the event after reports emerged suggesting Rodri had secured the most votes. The Spanish giants did not take kindly to the alleged leak.
On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmati, 26, was a deserving back-to-back winner of the Ballon d’Or Feminin after spearheading Barcelona’s historic quadruple-winning campaign.
The dynamic midfielder, who recorded an impressive 26 goals and 18 assists, led Barca to Champions League glory as well as domestic dominance. Bonmati also played a pivotal role in Spain’s Nations League success.
In her acceptance speech, an emotional Bonmati said: “Thank you for the applause, as always I say I can’t be here alone, I’m very fortunate to play with amazing players.”
She paid tribute to her teammates, family, and the Barcelona organization while acknowledging runner-up Caroline Graham Hansen’s outstanding season.
Barcelona monopolized the women’s top three, with Graham Hansen and rising star Salma Paralluelo joining Bonmati on the podium. USWNT forward Sophia Smith finished fourth.
The event saw the introduction of two new accolades – Men’s Coach of the Year and Women’s Coach of the Year. Other notable winners included:
- Lamine Yamal (Kopa Trophy for best young player)
- Harry Kane & Kylian Mbappe (shared Gerd Muller award for top scorer)
- Emi Martinez (Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper)
Despite his club’s absence, Rodri savored his crowning moment, revealing it coincided with his eighth anniversary with his partner. Flanked by family, he thanked supporters and promised to celebrate the historic achievement once he recovers from a current injury.
As the football world toasts its newest Ballon d’Or laureates, Spain can take immense pride in the individual brilliance of Rodri and Bonmati, who have undoubtedly etched their names in the annals of the beautiful game.
Read also: Lamine Yamal Crowned World’s Best Young Player with 2024 Kopa Trophy
