Rodri Wins Men’s Ballon d’Or as Real Madrid Boycotts Ceremony
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been crowned the winner of the prestigious men’s Ballon d’Or award, while Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bonmatí secured the women’s title for a second consecutive year.
The ceremony, held in Paris, was overshadowed by the absence of Real Madrid, who chose to boycott the event despite being named men’s club of the year. Their decision stemmed from Rodri’s victory over a trio of Real Madrid stars – Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal, and Jude Bellingham.
This meant that Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti missed out on accepting the men’s coach of the year award, and Kylian Mbappe was unable to collect his share of the Gerd Muller trophy alongside Harry Kane.
Rodri Celebrates Historic Win
Despite the controversy, Rodri celebrated his momentous achievement, accepting the award on crutches after sustaining a season-ending knee ligament injury.
Speaking in Spanish, Rodri expressed his gratitude:
“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…”
He continued, thanking his girlfriend Laura, his family, his Manchester City teammates, the Spanish national team, and coach Luis de la Fuente.
Bonmati Retains Women’s Ballon d’Or
Meanwhile, Aitana Bonmati became the first player in history to win the women’s Ballon d’Or twice in a row, consolidating her dominance in the women’s game.
Barcelona swept the top three places in the women’s category, with Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo following Bonmati.
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