Rodri Wins 2024 Ballon d'Or; Real Madrid Boycotts After Vinícius Jr. Finishes Second

Oct 28, 2024, 09:46 PM

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been awarded the 2024 Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Premier League player to win the prestigious award since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. Rodri, 28, had an outstanding season, winning the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, and the UEFA European Championship (Euro 2024) with Spain, where he was named Player of the Tournament. In reaction to Rodri's win, Real Madrid and their players, including Vinícius Jr., Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, and coach Carlo Ancelotti, boycotted the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris. The club had planned to send a delegation of 50 people but canceled after learning Vinícius Jr. would not win. Vinícius Jr. finished second in the Ballon d'Or rankings, with Bellingham third and Carvajal fourth. Real Madrid reportedly feels "disrespected" by the organizers. Rodri's victory marks the first time a Manchester City player has won the Ballon d'Or and the first Spanish man to receive the honor since Luis Suárez in 1960.