Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí Triumph at 2024 Ballon d'Or Awards

Oct 30, 2024, 15:25 IST

Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí Triumph at 2024 Ballon d'Or Awards

Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí Triumph at 2024 Ballon d'Or Awards

The famous Ballon d'Or award for the best player in the world went to Rodri, a Spanish midfielder for Manchester City, on October 28. It was a great night for football. This is a huge win for the 28-year-old, who beat some tough opponents, like Vinicius Jr. from Brazil and Jude Bellingham from England, both of whom play for Real Madrid.

Rodri's win is especially important because he is the first defensive midfielder to do so since the great Lothar Matthaus in 1990. Last season, his outstanding play was a big reason why Manchester City won an unusual fourth straight Premier League title. He also did great on the world stage. At this year's European Championship, where Spain won its fourth title, he was named the tournament's best player.

He is the third Spanish player to receive this honour, after Alfredo Di Stefano and Luis Suarez. He is from Madrid and is part of an elite group of Spanish players who have gotten it. That's an amazing accomplishment that shows not only how talented he is as a person but also how much he helps his teams succeed.

The women's team, led by Aitana Bonmatí of Barcelona, made more noise when she won her second straight Ballon d'Or. We can't say enough about how important she was to Barcelona Femení's amazing year. With wins in Liga F, the Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, and the Copa de la Reina, Bonmatí was a key part of her team's first-ever treble. Because she is so consistent and skilled, she has really set a bar in women's football.

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There were also other exciting moments and awards that night. Harry Kane of Bayern Munich and Kylian Mbappé, who is now at PSG/Real Madrid, won the Gerd Müller Trophy, which is given to the top scorer. The Yashin Trophy went to Emiliano Martínez of Argentina for being the best goalie. The Kopa Trophy went to Lamine Yamal of Barcelona for being the best player under 21.

The Socrates Award for charitable work was also given to Jennifer Hermoso from Club Tigres Femenil for her work off the pitch. The awards went to Emma Hayes from Chelsea for coaching the women's team and Carlo Ancelotti from Real Madrid for coaching the men's team. Both coaches have made a big difference for their teams.

Real Madrid was named Men's Club of the Year, and Barcelona Femení was named Women's Club of the Year. These awards show how talented and cooperative women's football is today.

Not only did the 2024 Ballon d'Or awards honour individual greatness, they also showed how football has changed and grown for both men and women. Tonight was a night to honour and motivate players, coaches, and clubs for their commitment and hard work. As we look ahead, one thing is clear: football has a better future than ever, thanks to stars like Rodri and Bonmatí.

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