Man City’s Rodri breaks 16-year-old Premier League jinx to win Ballon d’Or

Manchester City and Spain midfielder, Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, known as Rodri, has emerged as the winner of the 2024 prestigious men’s Ballon d’Or.

Ballon d’Or is an individual award given to the best footballer in a calendar year.

The 28-year-old Rodri was crowned with the award at a ceremony in Paris, the French capital on Monday, October 28, 2024.

The versatile midfielder beat off competition from Real Madrid and Brazilian winger, Vinicius Junior, to become the first player in the history of Manchester City to win the Ballon d’Or.

At the same time, Rodri also became the first male Spanish footballer to win the award and ended a 16-year wait for another Premier League player to win the coveted award after Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United in 2008.

Vinicius’ teammate and England midfielder, Jude Bellingham finished in third place – the highest an English player has finished in the award since former Chelsea legend, Frank Lampard recorded a second-place finish in 2005.

Super Eagles and Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, finished in 14th place, the highest-ranked African in the 2024 edition.

Real Madrid men’s team won the award for the club of the year, with the women’s version going to their arch-rival Barcelona.

Barcelona and Spain midfielder, Aitana Bonmati retianed her crown by winning the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the second year running.

Los Merengues’s Italian gaffer, Carlo Ancelotti, carted away the best men’s coach of the year award while former Chelsea women’s team and current USWNT coach Emma Hayes won the female version.

Rodri says Ballon d’Or success special

Meanwhile, England and Bayern Munich striker, Harry Kane shared the best striker award (Muller Trophy) with his Madrid and France counterpart, Kylian Mbappe with 52 goals apiece but only the former was there to pick his plaque.

Recall it was earlier reported that Madrid was boycotting the ceremony after it became known to them that Vinicius would not win.

Consequently, there was no one from the club present to receive the prizes.

Reacting, Rodri who appeared on stage on crutches after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a match against Arsenal in September, noted that it’s “A very special day for me, my family and my country,”