Spanish winner after 64 long years. The golden ball was won by European champion Rodri – Other – Football

Spanish footballer Rodri won the Ballon d’Or of France Football magazine for the 2023/2024 season.

Spaniard and Manchester City player Rodri Hernandez, the best footballer in the world for the 2023/24 season.

Rodri helped the national team to win the European Championship and his club Manchester City to defend the title of English champion.

At the European Championship in Germany, he earned the MVP award for the tournament’s most valuable player. Already the 68th year of the awarding ceremony took place in the Paris Theater du Chatelet, it was boycotted by representatives of Real Madrid.

The 28-year-old native of Madrid became only the third Spanish footballer to receive the prestigious award. Before him, only Alfredo di Stéfano (1957 and 1959) and Luis Suárez (1960) managed to win the Ballon d’Or.

For the first time since 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were absent from the nomination. The Argentine has won the Ballon d’Or eight times, most recently last year, and is the record holder for the number of trophies. His competitor from Portugal has five at home.

This year’s laureate took to the podium on crutches, as he recently underwent surgery for damaged ligaments in his right knee. His club Manchester City reported in September that the footballer will miss the team until the end of the season. “Just being here with such players is a reward for me. And the fact that some people think I’m the best in the world is incredible,” said Rodri after the results were announced.

At the gala dinner, for the third time in the poll’s history, awards were not given for the calendar year, but for the season. In addition to the main category, the magazine France Football also announces a poll for the best player under the age of 21 (Raymond Kopa award) and the best goalkeeper (Lev Jašin award). It also awards the Ballon d’Or for the best female soccer player. The under-21 player of the year trophy went to Lamine Yamal.

The 17-year-old FC Barcelona talent followed his teammates Gavi, who triumphed last year, and Pedri, who won the award the year before. “I am very happy to be in the company of such big names. It’s an honor for me,” said the Spanish midfielder. He took home the award for the best goalkeeper, just like the Argentinian Emiliano Martinez did last year, and is the first goalkeeper in the history of the poll with two consecutive triumphs.

The Spanish Aitana Bonmati from FC Barcelona was declared the best soccer player for the second year in a row, and her club is also the best women’s team of the season. They also awarded the Gerd Müller trophy, which from 2022 is given to the best scorer of the season in a combination of goals for club and country. The first two seasons were dominated by Robert Lewandowski, this time the award was won by the pair of attackers Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.

Rodri succeeded in the competition of several favorites, the nomination included Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian striker in the colors of Real Madrid was considered the biggest favorite, but the management of the Spanish big club received information on Monday afternoon that their player will not be announced as the winner. Therefore, they decided not to travel to the French capital. They didn’t even receive the award for the best men’s team of the season, and the best coach, Carlo Ancelotti, was also missing from the podium.

Sports journalists from all over the world vote in the poll. The first edition took place in 1956, when Stanley Matthews from England won. In the past, several Slovak footballers were among the best. The very first nomination was earned in 1959 by Titus Buberník from ČH Bratislava, he took 17th place. Andrej Kvašňák was nominated three times.

He was 15th in 1962, 17th in 1965, and 18th four years later. In 1969, Jozef Adamec was nominated, he finished in 15th place. Ján Pivarník was ranked 22nd in 1975. However, from the point of view of the Slovaks, the most successful year was 1976, when Anton Ondruš (6th) and Marián Masný (9th) reached the TOP 10. Jaroslav Pollák completed them with 15th place.

From 1956 to 1994, only European footballers could win the trophy. The winners were also crowned as the best footballers in Europe for the given period. Since 1995, the scope of the poll has expanded and all players, regardless of nationality, could triumph. Between 2010 and 2015, there was an agreement between the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the organizer, which resulted in the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the best player of the year. Currently, both polls (FIFA best player of the year and Ballon d’Or) are separate.