Rodri Picks Men’s Ballon d’Or Award

Web Desk — Rodri, the Manchester City and Spain midfielder, won the men’s Ballon d’Or after winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title and Euro 2024. Real Madrid boycotted the event.

Giving the world’s best player’s award to the midfielder surprised many as Real Madrid’s Liga and Champions League double winner Vinicius Junior was widely considered the favorite.

The Spanish club announced its delegation would not attend the ceremony at Chatelet Theatre Paris because of what it perceived as a snub of Vinicius.

With Rodri’s key role, the City held off Arsenal to win the Premier League title last season and was named player of the tournament at Euro 2024 as unfancied Spain emerged victorious in Germany.

Rodri gave a diplomatic answer when addressing the question of Real’s absence in his post-award press conference.

According to the French organisers, the identity of the winner was a closely guarded secret this year but the news appeared to have leaked ahead of the festivities.

Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati earlier won her second successive women’s Ballon d’Or. She led her club to a historic continental quadruple of titles and claimed the Nations League with her country.

An international jury of 100 specialist journalists chooses the winner of the Ballon d’Or from the shortlist.