Rodri claims Ballon D'or as France football crowns stars
The "France Football" Ballon d'Or gala concluded that some of the biggest football stars and legends were gathered at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. During the ceremony, awards were given across various categories, with the main accolade recognising the best footballer of the year. This year, the winner was Rodri, a midfielder for Manchester City and the Spanish national team.
Who became the 2024 footballer of the year in the prestigious journalists' poll by "France Football"? This time, Rodri, a central midfielder for Manchester City and the Spanish national team, earned the accolade after winning the European Championship.
Lamine Yamal won the renowned Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player under 21. The Barcelona midfielder made history as the youngest recipient of this award, receiving the trophy at just 17 years old.
In the category of best goalkeeper of the year, Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa triumphed. The Gerd Müller Trophy for the most goals scored was awarded jointly to Harry Kane (Bayern Munich/England) and Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain/France).
Among the clubs, the best men's team was Real Madrid, the champions of Spain and the Champions League winners. Meanwhile, among women, the award went to FC Barcelona, where Polish player Ewa Pajor has been playing since this summer. Both teams dominated the European competitions in the previous season.
In the category of the Ballon d'Or for best female footballer, Aitana Bonmatí won for the second consecutive year, one of the stars of the Pride of Catalonia.
In the men's category, Rodri won the Ballon d'Or for the first time in his career. The 28-year-old Rodrigo Hernández Cascante is a Spanish midfielder who plays for Manchester City and the Spanish national team. He is a midfield leader and a key player for the European champions and Premier League winners.
2024 Ballon d'Or results:
Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona)
Yashin Trophy: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Best men's team: Real Madrid
Best women's team: FC Barcelona
Best coach (men): Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
Best coach (women): Emma Hayes (USA women's national team/Chelsea)
Ballon d'Or (women): Aitana Bonmatí (FC Barcelona)
Ballon d'Or (men): Rodri (Manchester City)
Gerd Müller Trophy: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) and Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
Socrates Award: Jennifer Hermoso (Tigres UANL)
