Surprise, the Spanish midfielder Rodri, model of collective player, beat the soloist Vinicius Jr in the race for the Golden Ball at the end of a ceremony swallowed up by the boycott of Real Madrid, which did not come to collect any of his trophies Monday evening at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
In an evening with a Spanish accent, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati retained her trophy among the women.
But the triumph of Rodri, mentor of Manchester City, quadruple champion of England and especially of Spain, winner of the Euro this summer, was eclipsed by the controversy triggered in the afternoon by the sulk of Real .
The 28-year-old midfielder was preferred by the 100 jurors to three Real players, the Brazilian Vinicius, the Englishman Jude Bellingham and the Spaniard Dani Carvajal.
Champion of Spain and above all best player in the Champions League, where he scored in the final against Borussia Dortmund (2-0), “come” was expected to be among the big favorites but paid for its failed Copa America, where Brazil was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Uruguay (0-0, 4 tab to 2), a match that it was unable to play because it was… suspended.
“I will do ten times more if necessary, they are not ready”he wrote in a message published on his X account after the Parisian ceremony.
The result of the 2024 Ballon d’or with Rodri first and Vinicius Junior second, during the ceremony in Paris, October 28, 2024 / FRANCK FIFE / AFP
The absence of « Meringues » gave a cold shoulder. No representative of the White House was there to collect the club trophy of the year and then the Gerd-Müller prize for top scorer, which Kylian Mbappé shares with Harry Kane (52 goals each). Carlo Ancelotti was also absent to receive the new Johan Cruyff trophy for best coach.
“I would like to thank my family, my president, my club, my players and above all Vini and Carvajal”wrote the Italian coach on his X account.
Several present or past teammates “come” also showed their support, like Toni Kroos or Karim Benzema on Instagram. “Football politics. My brother, you are the best player in the world and no award can say otherwise”tweeted Real’s French midfielder, Eduardo Camavinga, above a photo with the Brazilian.
In Brazil, the affair sparked a wave of indignation.
“Not good for football”
Certain that Vinicius Jr would not receive the Ballon d’Or, Real Madrid announced at the end of the afternoon that it was boycotting the Paris meeting.
Rodri receives the 2024 Ballon d’or, in Paris, October 28, 2024 / FRANCK FIFE / AFP
“If the award criteria do not designate Vinicius as winner”ils “should nominate Carvajal”Real explained to AFP, concluding: “It is obvious that the UEFA Ballon d’Or does not respect Real Madrid”who does not come “where it is not respected”.
“No player or club knows on Monday afternoon who won” the trophy, the organizers of the Ballon d’Or replied to AFP.
In previous years, the winner was taken into confidence a few days before the award ceremony, to conduct an interview with France Football magazine, which awards the prestigious award in partnership with UEFA, and the information often ended up leaking .
“It is not good for football that an entity like Real Madrid is not present at a gala of this size”reacted the Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente upon his arrival at the ceremony.
“The figure of the midfielder”
Despite this shadow, it is a consecration for Rodri, seriously injured at the start of the season and arriving on crutches on the red carpet.
Rodri (L) on crutches during the 2024 Ballon d’or ceremony and helped by former Ivorian football player Didier Drogba, in Paris, October 28, 2024 / FRANCK FIFE / AFP
“I believe that this trophy confirms my victory but also the victory of so many Spanish players, of Iniesta, of Xavi (who never had the Ballon d’Or, Editor’s note), it is a victory for Spanish football and the figure of the midfielder »he said.
Rodri puts an end to the very long reign of Lionel Messi (8 Golden Balls) and Cristiano Ronaldo (5), who since 2008 have left only two trophies on the way, one to Luka Modric (2018), the other to Karim Benzema (2022). Neither sacred monster made the list for the first time since 2003.
Rodri, Manchester City’s first Golden Ball, now leads the new generation. With him, the Englishman Jude Bellingham (3rd), whom he beat in the final in Germany with La Roja (2-1). « Belli » was one of the driving forces behind Real’s brilliant season.
The 2024 Ballons d’or Aitana Bonmati and Rodri during the ceremony, in Paris, October 28, 2024 / FRANCK FIFE / AFP
Mbappé, who arrived at Real last summer, finished 6th, still behind Erling Haaland (5th), like last year when they were runners-up to Lionel Messi. The captain of the Blues, targeted by an investigation for rape according to Swedish media, was therefore also absent at Châtelet.
If the reign of Messi and CR7 ends, the Spaniard Aitana Bonmati keeps her Golden Ball, as did her compatriot Alexia Putellas before her, crowned in 2021 and 2022.
At 26, Bonmati is ahead of two of her Barça teammates, the Norwegian Caroline Graham Hansen, and another Spaniard, Salma Paralluelo.
The Catalan club therefore receives its fourth consecutive Golden Ball (two for Bonmati, two for Putellas), confirming its control and that of Spain, 2023 world champion, over world women’s football. Above the Real controversies.