Rodri and Bonmatí scoop Ballons d’Or as Real Madrid boycott big awards night

Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí have been named winners of the 2024 Ballon d’Or at football’s annual awards ceremony in Paris, their trophies handed out at the end of a bizarre day in which Real Madrid’s delegation opted not to attend.

In Rodri’s case the award crowned an extraordinary year’s work in which the influential Manchester City and Spain midfielder became a Premier League and European champion, also winning the Club World Cup.

That was not enough to impress the contingent from Real that had been expected to attend. Their forward, Vinícius Júnior, had been hot favourite to win the award but they cancelled their plans to travel upon learning earlier in the day that he had been pipped to the prize.

Rodri is sidelined with a long‑term anterior cruciate ligament injury, meaning he walked up to the stage aided by crutches, but the 28‑year‑old holding midfielder has become indispensable to City since arriving five years ago from Atlético Madrid. He is the first non-forward to win the men’s prize since Luka Modric in 2018. “An incredible night for me,” Rodri said after receiving the trophy from George Weah, a previous winner who spent a brief spell at City in 2000. “Today is a very special day, not just for me but for my family and my country.”

He beat Vinícius to top spot, with the Brazilian’s Madrid teammate, England’s Jude Bellingham, in third place. Carlo Ancelotti, the Madrid coach, won the men’s Johan Cruyff award as the top manager.

Before the ceremony, Madrid issued a statement to AFP and the Spanish media, saying: “If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinícius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to [Dani] Carvajal as the winner. As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or-Uefa does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.”

Moments after Rodri was announced as the winner: Vinícius posted on social media: “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.” The Spurs and Brazil striker Richarlison wrote: Rodri is a great player who deserves to be among the best. But Vini not winning the Ballon d’Or was embarrassing, and the only one who lost today was football.”

Among those supporting Rodri’s victory was his Manchester City teammate, Ilkay Gündogan. “From today on he is finally not ‘underrated’ anymore. Congratulations to my teammate Rodri on winning the Ballon d’Or!” he wrote. “Rodri is the perfect midfielder and there’s no one that plays his position better than he does.”

Bonmatí became the second player to retain the women’s award since its inception in 2018, following in the footsteps of her Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas. The playmaker was influential in another Liga F and Champions League double for Barcelona, also pulling the strings as Spain won the women’s Nations League earlier this year.

“What drives me to be here is the winning mentality that we have as a team and a national team, it’s what leads you to these successes,” Bonmatí said. The runner-up Caroline Graham Hansen and third-placed Salma Paralluelo completed a full Barca podium.

The ceremony was again held during a women’s international window, limiting the number of shortlisted players and coaches able to attend. Emma Hayes, who won the award for women’s coach of the year, accepted it remotely two days before her USA national team face Argentina.

Real’s apparent tantrum meant nobody was on hand to pick up their award for men’s club of the year. Barcelona received the women’s equivalent, with the club’s president, Joan Laporta, being joined on the stage by a handful of players.

The Gerd Müller award for the top men’s goalscorer last season was shared by Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé but, similarly, Mbappé was not present to collect his trophy. To complete an awkward set of would‑be presentations Ancelotti did not arrive to pick up his gong.

Rodri’s national team colleague Lamine Yamal began the evening’s festivities by winning the Kopa trophy, which is given to the best player under 21. At 17, he became the youngest player to be handed the accolade.

Other winners included the Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who won the Lev Yashin trophy, and the Spain forward Jenni Hermoso, who won the Socrates award for off-field charity or humanitarian work.