Rodri wins the 2024 Ballon d'Or

1995 Ballon d'Or winner and former Liberian President George Weah announced and presented the 2024 Ballon d'Or to Rodri at a gala at the Chatelet Theater on the evening of October 28, Paris time.

MC and former striker Didier Drogba went down to help the Spanish midfielder receive the award, because he is being treated for a knee injury and will be out until the end of the 2024-2025 season.

Rodri became the first player born in the 90s to win the Ballon d'Or, and also the first Spanish player to win this award in 64 years.

Before giving his acceptance speech, Rodri put his crutches aside, choked with emotion and unable to speak. After a moment, he spoke: "This is an incredible evening for me. I will speak in Spanish, the language of my country."

Rodri thanked France Football magazine, the European Football Federation, his family, his loved ones, Manchester City Club and the Spanish national team. "The most important person" to him was his girlfriend Laura Iglesias, who was also in the audience, as they have been together for eight years.

Rodri also paid tribute to defender Dani Carvajal, who is also suffering from a similar injury to him, and "deserves to stand on the podium like me".

The 28-year-old midfielder also said that Lamine Yamal will receive this award in the future, making the 17-year-old winger smile.

"Today is not only a victory for me, but also for Spanish football," Rodri added. "Many players deserve this award but have not won it, such as Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas or Sergio Busquets. This award honors Spanish football and midfielders."

Rodri is the first defensive midfielder to win the award since Lothar Matthaus in 1990. He scored nine goals and provided 14 assists in 50 games last season, helping the club win the Premier League and Club World Cup.

The 1.9m midfielder made an even bigger impression at Euro 2024 when he was named the tournament's best player, helping Spain win the title. He only scored one goal at Euro, but he was highly regarded for his ability to control the match.

Rodri grew up at Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, playing professionally since the age of 19, playing for both clubs before joining Man City in the summer of 2019 for a transfer fee of 81 million USD. Last year, he finished fifth in the race for the Golden Ball.

This year's achievement makes Rodri the third Spanish player to win the Ballon d'Or, after Alfredo Di Stefano (1957, 1959) and Luis Suarez (1960). Di Stefano is Argentine, but played for the Spanish national team during the years he won the award.

Rodri is also the first Man City player to win the Ballon d'Or, after Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland won the Bronze Ball in 2022 and the Silver Ball in 2023 respectively. The 28-year-old midfielder is also the first representative of the Premier League to win the award, since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008 when he was playing for Man Utd.

Before Weah announced Rodri's name, the crowd erupted in chants of "Vinicius". The 24-year-old Real Madrid striker was considered a strong candidate to win the award, until the day of the award.

Vinicius even threw a party with his friends, and promised to give each of his Real Madrid teammates a Rolex watch. But then he received the news that he had missed out on the tournament.

Before the gala, dozens of spectators outside the Chatelet theater also shouted in unison: "Golden Ball Vinicius". However, the Brazilian star and all Real members boycotted and did not attend the gala.

There, Carlo Ancelotti was chosen as the best coach, while Real Madrid was honored as the best club. Vinicius also won the Silver Ball, while Bellingham won the Bronze Ball, but was absent.

France Football also awarded the women's Ballon d'Or to midfielder Aitana Bonmati, marking the second consecutive year she has won the award.

The 26-year-old midfielder plays for Barca, where her teammates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo won the Silver and Bronze Balls respectively. Bonmati and Rodri being honoured together means this is the first time the men's and women's Ballon d'Or winners have come from the same country.

The best young player award went to Yamal, who is also the youngest player to win the award. The 17-year-old winger played a major role in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph. Midfielder Arda Guler came second, while Kobbie Mainoo came third.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was once again awarded the Lev Yashin award for best goalkeeper, despite being booed by the French crowd. He played a key role in Argentina winning the 2024 Copa America, while Aston Villa also secured a Champions League spot.

The Ballon d'Or is considered the most prestigious individual award in football, awarded since 1956 to European players, and since 1995 expanded to the world. Lionel Messi holds the record of eight wins, in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

For the men's tournament, each journalist from a country with a team in the FIFA Top 100 will be selected to form a scoring panel for the 30 nominees. Each journalist will select 10 players from the Top 30 nominees, with points awarded respectively 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 points for each player. The player with the highest total score wins the award.