Spanish soccer had a triumphant evening at the Ballon d’Or awards, honoring the top talents in both men’s and women’s football. Manchester City midfielder Rodri secured his first Ballon d’Or, while Aitana Bonmatí of Barcelona claimed her second consecutive Ballon d’Or Féminin.
The ceremony, held in Paris, also recognized other Spanish talents, including the young prodigy Lamine Yamal, who received the award for the best player under 21.
Rodri played a pivotal role in both Manchester City’s and Spain’s successes in 2024. Manchester City achieved an impressive fourth consecutive Premier League title, and Spain triumphed at Euro 2024.
“It’s an incredible night for me,” Rodri expressed after receiving the award. “After all the hard work and the tough times I’ve faced, the light has finally emerged,” he reflected, as translated during the broadcast. He attributed his award to improvements he made in his offensive play.
Rodri reflected on his evolution as a player, saying, “I started as a traditional midfielder, but I realized that to improve, I needed to contribute more in the final third—through assists and goals. That’s why my goal involvement has increased in recent years.”
The 28-year-old expressed gratitude to his club and international teammates for their support in achieving this personal milestone.
In the voting, Rodri finished first, with Real Madrid’s Vinícius Jr. and Jude Bellingham coming in second and third, respectively. Both Vinícius and Bellingham played key roles in helping Real Madrid secure their record 15th Champions League title and another La Liga championship in 2024.
Aitana Bonmatí played a vital role in Barcelona Femení’s success this year, earning her second consecutive Ballon d’Or. She helped the team achieve its first-ever quadruple, clinching titles in Liga F, the Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, and the Copa de la Reina.
“I’m so grateful to be here and win this award again,” Bonmatí said after receiving the trophy, as translated during the broadcast. “But this isn’t just my achievement; it’s a team effort. I’m fortunate to play alongside such incredible players, and it’s thanks to them that I’m recognized as the best.”
Hollywood actress Natalie Portman presented Bonmatí with her award, congratulating her on her remarkable achievement. “It’s extraordinary to see you win for a second time, and you are a hero to many of us,” Portman said, encouraging viewers to support and engage with women’s soccer.
Aitana Bonmatí won the Ballon d’Or, outpacing her Barcelona Femení teammates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo, who finished second and third, respectively. “Tonight, it’s my turn, but it could easily have been Caroline or Salma,” Bonmatí noted.
Barcelona players had a strong showing at the awards, with teenager Lamine Yamal winning the Kopa Trophy, recognizing him as the best under-21 player in men’s football. At just 17, the talented winger has excelled for Barcelona over the past year and was instrumental in Spain’s victory at Euro 2024.
Yamal recently made headlines during a historic match against Real Madrid, where he became the youngest goalscorer in El Clásico history, scoring at the age of 17 years and 106 days during Barcelona’s impressive 4-0 victory.
Here’s the full list of winners from the 2024 awards:
Men’s Ballon d’Or:
Rodri, Manchester City and Spain
Women’s Ballon d’Or:
Aitana Bonmatí, Barcelona and Spain
Gerd Müller Trophy (Top Scorer):
Harry Kane, Bayern Munich and England, and Kylian Mbappé, PSG/Real Madrid and France
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper):
Emiliano Martínez, Aston Villa and Argentina
Kopa Trophy (Best Player Under-21):
Lamine Yamal, Barcelona and Spain
Socrates Award (For Humanitarian Work):
Jennifer Hermoso, Club Tigres Femenil and Spain
Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (Women’s Coach of the Year):
Emma Hayes, Chelsea/USA
Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (Men’s Coach of the Year):
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid
Women’s Club of the Year:
Barcelona Femení
Men’s Club of the Year:
Real Madrid