Rodri wins Ballon d'Or.. Learn about other awards

Spanish star Rodri (28 years old) was crowned with the Golden Ball award for the best player in the world for the year 2024, at the official Golden Ball ceremony, which revealed the name of the winner on Monday evening.

Rodri, described by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as "the best midfielder in the world", played a pivotal role in helping City win a fourth successive Premier League title and was named player of the tournament at Euro 2024 after helping Spain to a record-extending fourth title.
Rodri won the Ballon d'Or for the first time in his career, after receiving the highest points from a special vote (the number of points will be revealed later) by journalists, and won the English Premier League and Euro 2024 titles, and played 50 games in all competitions for City, scoring nine goals.

Rodri won the award ahead of Real Madrid's Brazilian Vinicius Junior and Englishman Jude Bellingham. Sources told Reuters earlier that Real Madrid decided at the last minute not to send its delegation to the Ballon d'Or ceremony after learning that its striker Vinicius Junior would not win the best player award.

The Golden Ball award ceremony witnessed the distribution of other awards for each category during the year 2024 as follows:

Copa Award for Best Young Player

The young Spanish star, Lamine Yamal, won the "Copa" award for the best player in the world for the year 2024.

Best Ladies Club Award

FC Barcelona Femenina have been named the Best Women's Club of the Year 2024, with president Joan Laporta receiving the award.

Best Men's Club Award

Real Madrid won the award for the best men's club for the year 2024, but no one received the award due to the absence of any of the Real Madrid delegation.

Gerd Muller Award for Best Striker

The Gerd Muller Award for Best Striker went to England's Harry Kane and France's Kylian Mbappe, who both scored 52 goals, equalling their tally.

Lev Yashin Award for Best Goalkeeper

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has won the Lev Yashin Award for Best Goalkeeper of the Year 2024, marking the second time in a row that Martinez has won the award.

Socrates Award for Best Humanitarian Work

The Spanish player, Jennifer Hermoso, won the Socrates Award (a football award given to the best humanitarian work done by a football player around the world).

Best Coach Award

Chelsea coach Emma Hayes won the award for best coach of the year in the women's category, while in the men's category, the award for best coach of the year went to Italian Carlo Ancelotti, coach of Real Madrid.

Ballon d'Or for the best player in the world 2024

Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati has won the women's Ballon d'Or, the second time in a row that Bonmati has won the award.