Ballon d'Or 2024 Winners: Rodri, Aitana Bonmati, Lamine Yamal Shine

The Ballon d'Or 2024 ceremony, held in Paris on Monday, was a star-studded event, with Manchester City's Rodri clinching the top honor. The night also saw Lamine Yamal taking home the Kopa Trophy, and Real Madrid earning team accolades despite their absence from the event due to a boycott. Here's a rundown of all the winners at the prestigious ceremony.

Ballon d'Or Men's and Women's Awards: Who Took Home the Coveted Prizes?

At the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony, Rodri was crowned the winner of the men’s award. The event, hosted by France Football in collaboration with UEFA, celebrated Rodri’s contributions to Manchester City's Premier League dominance and Spain's Euro 2024 victory. The 28-year-old midfielder played a pivotal role in City’s fourth consecutive Premier League title and earned the Player of the Tournament award at Euro 2024.
On the women's side, Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona retained her crown as the best female player in the world. Bonmati’s incredible season included winning the Spanish league, cup, and the Champions League with Barcelona. She becomes the second player from Barcelona, after Alexia Putellas, to claim the women’s trophy twice since its inception in 2018. Bonmati surpassed her Barcelona teammates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo, ensuring a clean sweep for the Spanish club.
“It’s an honor to stand here again,” said Bonmati, who accepted her award from actress Natalie Portman. “I owe it all to my teammates and the clubs that push me to improve every year.”

Lamine Yamal's Kopa Trophy Triumph

At just 17, Lamine Yamal’s star power was undeniable as he claimed the Kopa Trophy. His remarkable performances in Euro 2024, particularly his stunning equalizer in Spain’s semifinal victory over France, solidified his place among football’s elite. Yamal scored 16 goals in the 2023/24 season and contributed four assists during Spain's Euro campaign.
The Kopa Trophy has been awarded to rising stars like Kylian Mbappe, Matthijs de Ligt, Pedri, Gavi, and Jude Bellingham in the past. This year, Yamal joined this elite group, accepting his award from former Ballon d'Or winner Ruud Gullit.

Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti: Success Despite Boycott

Although Real Madrid's stars were absent from the ceremony in protest of Vinicius Junior and Dani Carvajal’s exclusion from the Ballon d'Or race, the club still walked away with the Men’s Team of the Year award. The team’s successful campaign in the UEFA Champions League and La Liga under Carlo Ancelotti’s leadership was enough to secure the title.
Ancelotti himself earned the Men's Coach of the Year award, capping off a remarkable season. On the women’s side, Chelsea’s Emma Hayes was honored as the Women’s Coach of the Year after guiding her team to numerous victories.

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