Real Madrid boycotts Ballon d'Or as Rodri claims top award

Man City’s Rodri wins men’s Ballon d’Or; Aitana Bonmati claims women’s award. Real Madrid skips event, and Yamal takes U21 Kopa trophy in Paris.

Rodri wins the 2024 Ballon d'Or for his heroics for Spain and Manchester City, beating Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham to the award. (Photo credit: Manchester City)

At a lavish Ballon d'Or event in Paris, France, Manchester City's Rodrigo, also known as Rodri, won the Men's Player of the Year award, beating Real Madrid duo Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham.

While everyone was rooting for Real Madrid and Brazil’s Vinicius Jr., news broke out earlier on Monday that the entire Real Madrid contingent would not be attending the event after they learned that their players wouldn’t be winning the award.

Real Madrid won the men's team of the year award without anyone present to accept it.

While Barcelona's women's team won the female team of the year award for their exceptional performance in the women's Champions League.

The 2024 winners list! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/kV28kY5io7

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024

Lamine Yamal of Spain won the Kopa trophy, an award for U21 players, defeating Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United, Arder Guler of Real Madrid, Savinho of Manchester City, and Lamal's teammate Pau Cubarsi.

Harry Kane from Bayern Munich made his first appearance at the prestigious award, winning the Gerd Muller award for outscoring everyone else in the world, along with Real Madrid and France forward Kyllian Mbappe.

The goalkeeper from Argentina and Aston Villa won the Yacine Trophy for goalkeepers for the second year in a row, making history as the first to do so due to his heroics for both club and country. 

This achievement helped Aston Villa return to the Champions League for the first time in 40 years, and also helped Argentina win the Copa title once more.

Yohan Cruyff, the father of total football and a significant contributor to the beautiful game, is the recipient of the coach of the year award. 

USA head coach Emma Hayes and Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti won the women's and men’s coach of the year, respectively.

Aitana Bonmati of Spain and Barcelona won the Ballon d'Or for the women category.

While Manchester City’s Rodri carted home the male version for winning the Euros, the Club World Cup, and the English Premier League.