By Gideon Maxwell
October 28, 2024
In a ceremony that marked a new era in football, Rodri of Manchester City and Aitana Bonmatí of Barcelona were crowned the winners of the 2024 Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or awards, respectively, at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday, October 28, 2024.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony, presented by France Football and co-organised with UEFA for the first time, was a significant event that highlighted the transition to a new generation of football stars.
The absence of long-time dominators Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from the nominees added to the anticipation and drama surrounding the awards.
Men’s Ballon d’Or
Rodri, the Spanish midfielder from Manchester City, emerged as the surprise winner of the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or.
He beat out strong contenders such as Vinicius Jr. of Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, and Erling Haaland of Manchester City.
Rodri’s victory is a testament to his outstanding performances throughout the 2023-24 season, which included crucial contributions to Manchester City’s success in various competitions.
“I am incredibly honoured to receive this award. It is a recognition of the hard work and dedication not just from me, but from my entire team and the staff at Manchester City,” Rodri said in his acceptance speech.
Women’s Ballon d’Or
Aitana Bonmatí, the Spanish midfielder from Barcelona, won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the second consecutive year.
She was a favourite among other notable players like Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo, both from Barcelona.
Bonmatí’s consistent excellence and leadership on the field have made her a standout in women’s football.
“This award is not just for me, but for all the women who are working hard to make their mark in football. I am grateful to my team, my family, and everyone who has supported me on this journey,” Bonmatí stated.
Other awards
The ceremony also saw the presentation of other prestigious awards.
The Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper was awarded to Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa, while the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player went to Lamine Yamal of Barcelona.
The Gerd Müller Trophy for the top goalscorer was shared between Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid and Harry Kane of Bayern Munich, both of whom scored 52 goals during the season.
Additional awards and honours
– Men’s Coach of the Year: Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
– Women’s Coach of the Year: Jonatan Giráldez (Barcelona)
– Men’s Club of the Year: Manchester City
– Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona
Reaction and significance
The ceremony marked a significant shift in the football landscape, as it celebrated the achievements of a new generation of players.
The absence of Messi and Ronaldo from the nominees highlighted the transition to a new era, with players like Rodri, Vinicius Jr., and Jude Bellingham leading the way.
“Tonight is a celebration of the future of football. These players are not just talented individuals but also role models for the next generation,” said Didier Drogba, one of the ceremony’s hosts.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony was a milestone event that honoured the best in football and marked the beginning of a new chapter in the sport.
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Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí’s wins were a testament to their hard work and dedication, and their acceptance speeches reflected the gratitude and humility that define true champions.
As the football world looks to the future, the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards serve as a reminder of the talent, passion, and excellence that continue to drive the sport forward.
2024 Ballon d’Or Ceremony: Full details and winners
The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony was held on Monday, October 28, 2024, at the Theatre du Chatelet** in Paris, France. The red carpet arrivals began around 7:00 p.m. local time, with the ceremony starting at 8:45 p.m. local time and expected to finish by 10:30 p.m.
Winners
Here is the full list of winners from the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony:
– Men’s Ballon d’Or: Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)
– Women’s Ballon d’Or: Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, Barcelona)
– Johan Cruyff Trophy for Best Men’s Coach: Carlo Ancelotti (Italy, Real Madrid)
– Johan Cruyff Trophy for Best Women’s Coach: Emma Hayes (England, ex-Chelsea, now USA women’s national team)
– Gerd Müller Trophy for Top Scorer: Kylian Mbappé (France, ex-Paris Saint-Germain) and Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich) – both on 52 goals
– Raymond Kopa Trophy for Best Young Player: Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
– Lev Yashin Trophy for Best Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
– Socrates Prize for Charity Work: Jenifer Hermoso (Spain, Tigres Monterrey)
– Best Men’s Team: Real Madrid
– Best Women’s Team: Barcelona
Men’s Ballon d’Or nominees
Here is the full list of nominees for the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or:
– Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
– Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Turkey, Inter)
– Dani Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid)
– Ruben Dias (Portugal, Manchester City)
– Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine, Dnipro / Girona / Roma)
– Phil Foden (England, Manchester City)
– Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain, Bayer Leverkusen)
– Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
– Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund)
– Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
– Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid)
– Ademola Lookman (Nigeria, Atalanta)
– Emiliano Martinez. (Argentina, Aston Villa)
– Lautaro Martinez. (Argentina, Inter)
– Kylian Mbappé (France, ex-Paris Saint-Germain / Real Madrid)
– Martin Ødegaard (Norway, Arsenal)
– Dani Olmo (Spain, Leipzig / Barcelona)
– Cole Palmer (England, Manchester City / Chelsea)
– Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
– Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)
– Antonio Rüdiger (Germany, Real Madrid)
– Bukayo Saka (England, Arsenal)
– William Saliba (France, Arsenal)
– Federico Valverde (Uruguay, Real Madrid)
– Vinicius Jr (Brazil, Real Madrid)
– Vitinha (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
– Nico Williams (Spain, Athletic Club)
– Florian Wirtz (Germany, Bayer Leverkusen)
– Granit Xhaka (Switzerland, Bayer Leverkusen)
– Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona).
Women’s Ballon d’Or nominees
Here is the full list of nominees for the 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or:
– Barbra Banda (Zambia, Orlando Pride)
– Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, Barcelona)
– Lucy Bronze (England, Barcelona)
– Mariona Caldentey (Spain, Barcelona)
– Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi, Lyon)
– Grace Geyoro (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
– Manuela Giugliano(Italy, Roma)
– Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway, Barcelona)
– Patricia Guijarro (Spain, Barcelona)
– Giulia Gwinn (Germany, Bayern Munich)
– Yui Hasegawa (Japan, Manchester City)
– Ada Hegerberg (Norway, Lyon)
– Lauren Hemp (England, Manchester City)
– Lindsey Horan (USA, Lyon)
– Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
– Alyssa Naeher (USA, Chicago Red Stars)
– Sjoeke Nüsken (Germany, Chelsea)
– Ewa Pajor (Poland, Wolfsburg / Barcelona)
– Salma Paralluelo (Spain, Barcelona)
– Gabi Portilho (Brazil, Corinthians)
– Alexia Putellas (Spain, Barcelona)
– Mayra Ramírez (Colombia, Levante / Chelsea)
– Trinity Rodman (USA, Washington Spirit)
– Lea Schüller (Germany, Bayern Munich)
– Khadija Shaw (Jamaica, Manchester City)
– Sophia Smith (USA, Portland Thorns)
– Mallory Swanson (USA, Chicago Red Stars)
– Tarciane (Brazil, Corinthians / Houston Dash)
– Glódís Viggósdóttir (Iceland, Bayern Munich)
Other awards
Kopa Trophy (Best Under-21 Player)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper)
Nominees for the 2024 Yashin Trophy:
– Diogo Costa (Portugal, Porto)
– Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, PSG)
– Gregor Kobel (Switzerland, Borussia Dortmund)
– Andriy Lunin (Ukraine, Real Madrid)
– Mike Maignan (France, AC Milan)
– Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia, Valencia)
– Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
– Unai Simon (Spain, Athletic Club)
– Yann Sommer (Switzerland, Inter)
– Ronwen Williams (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
