Manchester City star Rodri Hernandez beats Vinicius Junior to become Spain's fourth Ballon d'Or
Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernandez beat off competition from Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior to win the 2024. Ballon d'Orwith the Brazilian the hot favorite until Monday afternoon.
RODRI IS THE 2024 MEN'S BALLON D'OR! #balloon @ManCity @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/Cly6Uyr08H
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
Rodri was key in Manchester City's Premier League victory, and Spain's Euro 2024 victory, and narrowly beat Vinicius to the award by 16 points. Jude Bellingham came third in the award, which also saw Dani Carvajal nominated. Fede Valverde finished 17th, Kylian Mbappe ranked sixth, and Carvajal took fourth place. Elsewhere in La Liga, Athletic Club saw Nico Williams in 15th place, while fellow Spaniard Dani Olmo took 13th position.
The award has caused much controversy at Real Madrid, who believe that Vinicius has been unfairly snubbed. Los Blancos decided not to travel to the award, with the Brazilian forced to cancel a big party he had scheduled after the event, and the club claiming UEFA had disrespected him.
Rodri becomes the first Manchester City player, the seventh winner of the Premier League, and the fourth Spanish player to win the Ballon d'Or, after Luis Suarez Miramontes, Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, who retained the women's award this year. He is the first Spanish male winner since Suarez, who won the award in 1960, 64 years earlier.
