Man City midfielder Rodri becomes first Premier League player since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008 to be crowned Ballon d’Or winner; Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati won the women’s award for second year running; Former Chelsea Women boss Emma Hayes named women’s coach of the year.
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Rodri, who picked up an ACL injury in September against Arsenal, enjoyed the standout season of his career in 2023-24, winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title and lifting the Euro 2024 trophy with Spain.
The 28-year-old won the Best Player award from the tournament in Germany last summer despite being forced off at half-time in the final against England.
He was helped onto the stage after arriving on crutches, having been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Remarkably, Rodri also went 74 games – and 475 days – without experiencing defeat for club and country during the past year, with the run coming to an end in the FA Cup final against Manchester United last May.
The last time Rodri lost a Premier League game was a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham in February 2023. He becomes the first defensive midfielder to win the award, stretching back to 1956, while he is the first Spaniard to do so since Luis Suarez of Barcelona in 1960.
Speaking in Spanish, Rodri said: “I have so many things to thank people for. First of all to France Football and to UEFA for giving me this award. I would like to thank those who voted for me and put their trust in me. Today is a very special day for me and for my family, my country.
“I would like to thank the most important person in the world for me, my girlfriend Laura. Today is our anniversary and without her things wouldn’t have been the same. Thank you.
“Also my family, of course. The values they have taught me and all they represent in me, for having taught me the right steps to take and for helping me become the man I am.
“I don’t want to forget my team-mates, I understand it is a group game. Manchester City is so special, I know I wouldn’t make this without you. For me it is the best club in the world, and thanks to them things happen much easier.
“The national team and Luis (de la Fuente, coach), for trusting me for so long, I have to mention my team-mates with whom we won the Euros. This is not just for me but for Spanish football.”
The previous Premier League player to receive the accolade was Cristiano Ronaldo, who was at Manchester United in 2008 when he was crowned the winner.
Karim Benzema’s win in 2022 – then a Real Madrid player – came after Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had won all but one of the previous 13 titles between them. Messi won the award for the eighth time last year after inspiring Argentina’s World Cup heroics in Qatar.
English top-flight Ballon d’Or winners
1956 – Stanley Matthews – Blackpool
1964 – Denis Law – Manchester United
1966 – Bobby Charlton – Manchester United
1968 – George Best – Manchester United
2001 – Michael Owen – Liverpool
2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United
2024 – Rodri – Manchester City
English top-flight Ballon d’Or winners
- 1956 – Stanley Matthews – Blackpool
- 1964 – Denis Law – Manchester United
- 1966 – Bobby Charlton – Manchester United
- 1968 – George Best – Manchester United
- 2001 – Michael Owen – Liverpool
- 2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United
- 2024 – Rodri – Manchester City
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