Manchester City’s midfield anchor Rodri received the Ballon d’Or at the 2024 edition of the awards, making him the first midfielder to do so in the last 22 years. These achievements, especially when he assisted the City to attain the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup, were influential in his award. Rodri has emerged as a symbol of change as we see more focus placed on midfield players rather than forwards and attackers, which have been rife in the Ballon d’Or in recent years .
Rodri’s Ballon d’Or Win Sparks Madrid Boycott
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The ceremony was also marked by a notable absence: Real Madrid did not participate in the event based on signals that their leading striker, Vinicius Jr., would not be declared the winner. On the same prize night, even with the boycott intact, Real Madrid emerged as the Club of the Year, and its manager Carlo Ancelotti clinched the Johan Cruyff Trophy for the best men’s football coach. Vinicius Junior ranked second in the Ballon d’Or ratings, and his teammate Jude Bellingham was third; the last time an English-speaking footballer was placed so high was back in 2005.
Other notable awards are the Gerd Muller Trophy, awarded jointly to England’s Harry Kane and France’s Kylian Mbappe for having the best goal-scoring records in the world. Another award was the Yashin Trophy, which has gone to Aston Villa footballer Emiliano Martinez for the second time as the best goalkeeper in the world. Lamine Yamal, 17, from Barcelona, won the Kopa Trophy for the best young player under 21.
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