Manchester City’s Rodri won the men’s Ballon d’Or, while Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati claimed the women’s award. Real Madrid, named men’s club of the year, boycotted the Paris ceremony, feeling disrespected. Rodri’s victory over Real Madrid stars Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal, and Jude Bellingham contributed to the club’s decision to stay away. This meant no one was present to collect their awards, leaving Carlo Ancelotti and Kylian Mbappe absent as well.
Rodri was all smiles as he accepted the Ballon d’Or, celebrating a remarkable year that saw him help Spain win the Euros and secure a fourth consecutive Premier League title with Manchester City. Despite being on crutches from a knee injury, the 28-year-old expressed heartfelt gratitude during his speech. He thanked France Football and UEFA for the honor, his supporters, and especially his girlfriend Laura, noting their anniversary made the moment even more special. Rodri also reflected on the values instilled in him by his family, highlighting how their guidance shaped him into the man he is today.
Rodri was quick to highlight the importance of teamwork in his Ballon d’Or acceptance speech, praising his Manchester City teammates and calling the club the best in the world. He also acknowledged the support of the Spanish national team and coach Luis de la Fuente, emphasizing that his award reflects the achievements of Spanish football as a whole. Meanwhile, Aitana Bonmati celebrated her second consecutive women’s award, contributing to Barcelona’s impressive run, which included their third Champions League title in four years, with teammates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo also shining. In contrast, Real Madrid’s absence at the ceremony hinted at their disappointment, as they felt their stars, especially Vinicius and Carvajal, deserved more recognition.
Real Madrid expressed their frustration over the Ballon d’Or, feeling disrespected after their stars weren’t recognized as winners, stating, “Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.” However, the club still had a successful night, taking home two awards and sharing a third, with four players—Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, and Kylian Mbappe—ranking in the top six for the men’s Ballon d’Or. After the ceremony, Vinicius took to social media, confidently declaring, “I’ll do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready.” Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane shared the Gerd Muller trophy for their remarkable 52-goal seasons, with Kane expressing gratitude to Bayern Munich for their support. In another highlight, Barcelona’s young sensation Lamine Yamal snagged the Kopa Trophy, solidifying his status as a rising star in football.
In a thrilling moment for Spanish football, a young forward made history by becoming the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history, netting a goal just days shy of his 17th birthday during Spain’s exciting 2-1 semi-final victory over France, ultimately leading to a trophy lift. On the women’s side, Barcelona celebrated winning the Women’s Club of the Year after defeating Lyon in the Champions League final, marking their third European title in just four years. Emma Hayes earned the title of Women’s Coach of the Year after her impressive seventh Women’s Super League title with Chelsea and her successful stint with the U.S. national team, where she guided them to Olympic glory. In a heartfelt video message, Hayes expressed her pride and gratitude, acknowledging the hard work of all nominees in the challenging world of coaching. Meanwhile, Emiliano Martinez took home the Yashin Trophy as the best goalkeeper for the second consecutive year, thanks to his pivotal role in helping Argentina secure the Copa America and Aston Villa’s Champions League qualification.