Rodri wins 2024 Ballon d'Or to mark first Premier League player to win award since Cristiano Ronaldo
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Manchester City star Rodri has won the 2024 Ballon d'Or, making him the first Premier League player since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008 to lift the award.
The Spain international edged out Real Madrid duo Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham for the main prize, though neither were present at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.
The entire Real Madrid party decided to snub the ceremony in Paris on Monday after they were told that Vinicius Jr had not won the award.
Nevertheless, this is an incredible achievement for Rodri, who won the Premier League last season with City and the European Championship with Spain.
Rodri has won the Ballon d'Or
Reuters
He was also named Player of the Tournament over Euro 2024 and registered eight goals and nine assists for City last season, despite being a defensive midfielder.
The former Atletico Madrid star also won the UEFA Super Cup with City.
Rodri has become a vital part of Pep Guardiola's winning machine, though he is currently sidelined with an ACL injury that has threatened to end his season.
By winning the Ballon d'Or, Rodri also made Premier League history.
It made him the first recipient of the individual prize from the division since Ronaldo, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2008 after winning the Premier League and Champions League with Manchester United.
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Since then, La Liga players have often dominated - or more specifically Ronaldo, who joined Real Madrid, and Lionel Messi at Barcelona.
In total, they won 13 Ballon d'Or awards between them with five going to Ronaldo and eight to Messi.
Real Madrid players usually do very well in the competition, too, with Karim Benzema and Luka Modric recent winners while with the Bernabeu outfit.
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Rodri is currently sidelined with injury at Man City
Reuters
And Vinicius Jr believed he was set to be the next superstar from Los Blancos to lift the prize after winning the Champions League and being named the tournament's best player.
However, upon learning that he had lost out to Rodri, the entire club decided to boycott the Ballon d'Or.
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Rodri had a stunning year after winning the Premier League and European Championship
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It meant that everyone connected to Real Madrid, including coach Carlo Ancelotti and owner Florentino Perez, refused to travel to the ceremony.
And they were not the only ones to blank the Ballon d'Or - with Rodri's City team-mate Erling Haaland also missing the ceremony.
The Norway international, who finished second last year, has jetted off to Sweden to watch his friend Erik Botheim play.
Ballon d'Or 2024 top five:
- Rodri
- Vinicius Jr
- Jude Bellingham
- Dani Carvajal
- Erling Haaland
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