It was a remarkable night for Spanish soccer at the Ballon d’Or awards, held to honour the top players in men’s and women’s soccer.
Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri celebrated his first Ballon d’Or win, while Barcelona and Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí claimed her second consecutive Ballon d’Or Féminin.
The ceremony, held in Paris, also saw teenage sensation Lamine Yamal secure the Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21.
Rodri’s stellar 2024 season, marked by his instrumental roles in Manchester City’s fourth consecutive Premier League title and Spain’s victory at Euro 2024, was pivotal to his win. “Incredible night for me today,” Rodri shared emotionally, crediting his determination and growth in offensive play. “After all the dark phases in my life…the light has risen now,” he reflected, appreciating his teammates’ support and acknowledging his increased contributions in goals and assists.
In the women’s category, Bonmatí played a crucial role in Barcelona Femení’s historic quadruple win, covering Liga F, the Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, and Copa de la Reina. “This is not an individual achievement, it is a group thing,” Bonmatí humbly remarked, attributing her success to her talented teammates. Hollywood actress Natalie Portman presented Bonmatí’s award, commending her as a hero and urging greater support for women’s soccer.
The night also celebrated young talent, with 17-year-old Yamal receiving the Kopa Trophy after his impressive performances for Barcelona and a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 win. His recent record-breaking goal in El Clásico as the youngest scorer at 17 years and 106 days underscored his bright future in soccer.
Below is the full list of the Ballon d’Or 2024 award winners:
Men’s Ballon d’Or
Rodri, Manchester City and Spain
Women’s Ballon d’Or
Aitana Bonmatí, Barcelona and Spain
Gerd Müller Trophy (Top scorer)
Harry Kane, Bayern Munich and England and Kylian Mbappé, PSG/Real Madrid and France
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper)
Emiliano Martínez, Aston Villa and Argentina
Kopa Trophy (Best Player Under-21)
Lamine Yamal, Barcelona and Spain
Socrates Award (Awarded for recognition of humanitarian work)
Jennifer Hermoso, Club Tigres Femenil and Spain
Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy winner (Women’s Coach of the Year)
Emma Hayes, Chelsea/USA
Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy Winner (Men’s Coach of the Year )
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid
Women’s Club of the Year
Barcelona Femení
Men’s Club of the Year
Real Madrid
