If you were scrolling through social media on that rainy Monday night in October, you probably saw the chaos before you saw the football. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winners list wasn't just a tally of the world's best players; it was a full-blown soap opera. For the first time in ages, the leak culture of modern football hit a massive brick wall.
Everyone—and I mean everyone—thought Vinícius Júnior was flying to Paris to collect his trophy. The private jets were booked. The parties were planned. Then, a few hours before the curtain went up at the Théâtre du Châtelet, the bombshell dropped: Vini wasn't winning. Real Madrid, in a move that felt more like a high-school break-up than a professional sporting decision, boycotted the whole thing. Empty chairs. No Carlo Ancelotti. No Jude Bellingham. Just a very confused Paris audience.
In the end, it was Rodri. The man who basically doesn't have social media and plays with his shirt tucked in. The Manchester City anchor became the first defensive midfielder to grab the award in a generation, and honestly, it felt like a win for the "football nerds" who actually watch what happens between the penalty boxes.
The Night Rodri Changed the Narrative
When Rodri limped onto the stage on crutches—thanks to that brutal ACL injury he'd just suffered—it was a poignant moment. He isn't a "highlights" player. You won't see him doing rainbow flicks on TikTok. But the 2024 Ballon d'Or winners list needed someone like him to validate that winning actually matters.
He didn't just win the Premier League with City. He was the heartbeat of a Spanish side that absolutely dismantled everyone at Euro 2024. He played 74 games for club and country and lost only one. Think about that for a second. In a sport where any team can have an off day, Rodri basically forgot how to lose.
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The voting reflected a shift. It wasn't about who had the most "aura" or who sold the most jerseys. It was about who controlled the game.
- Rodri (Manchester City/Spain) - 1st Place
- Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid/Brazil) - 2nd Place
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England) - 3rd Place
- Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid/Spain) - 4th Place
Real Madrid fans were furious, claiming "football politics" robbed Vini. But if you look at the stats, Rodri’s influence was undeniable. He was the Player of the Tournament at the Euros. He scored the winning goal in a Champions League final the year prior. He’s the guy who makes everyone else look better.
Aitana Bonmatí: The Undisputed Queen
While the men’s side was drowning in drama, the women’s award felt like a foregone conclusion. Aitana Bonmatí won her second consecutive Ballon d'Or, and frankly, she might just win the next three if she feels like it.
She’s basically the female version of Andrés Iniesta, but maybe with a more clinical eye for goal. Barcelona Femení won everything—the quadruple. Liga F, Copa de la Reina, Supercopa, and the Champions League. Aitana was the MVP of the Champions League. She was the best player at the World Cup before that.
Watching her play is sort of like watching a grandmaster play chess against people who are still learning how the horse moves. She is always three steps ahead. The gap between her and the rest of the field in 2024 was massive.
Top 5 Women's Rankings:
- Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona)
- Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona)
- Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
- Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
- Lindsey Horan (Lyon)
Notice a pattern? Barcelona players locked out the podium. It’s a level of dominance we haven't seen since the peak Messi-Xavi-Iniesta era.
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The Kids Are Alright: Lamine Yamal and the Kopa Trophy
If you want to feel old, look at Lamine Yamal. At 17, he didn’t just win the Kopa Trophy (best player under 21); he finished 8th in the overall Ballon d'Or rankings. 8th. At an age where most of us were struggling with basic algebra, he was terrorizing defenders in a Euro final.
Yamal is the youngest winner in the history of the trophy. He beat out Arda Güler and Kobbie Mainoo, which is no small feat given how good those two were last season. There’s a fearlessness in his game that’s just... weird. He plays like he’s in a park with his friends, even when there are 70,000 people screaming.
Goalkeepers and Goalscorers: The Supporting Cast
The Yashin Trophy went to "Dibu" Martínez again. People love to hate him because of his antics, but man, he is clutch. He helped Argentina win another Copa América and was the main reason Aston Villa found themselves in the Champions League. He’s the first goalkeeper to win this award back-to-back.
The Gerd Müller Trophy for top scorer was actually a split. Both Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé finished with 52 goals. It’s a bit of a weird one because they didn't have a tie-breaker. They just gave it to both. Since Mbappé was part of the Real Madrid boycott, he wasn't there to pick it up. Kane, ever the professional, stood there alone and took the applause.
The Full 2024 Award Breakdown:
- Men's Ballon d'Or: Rodri
- Women's Ballon d'Or: Aitana Bonmatí
- Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal
- Yashin Trophy: Emiliano Martínez
- Men's Coach of the Year: Carlo Ancelotti
- Women's Coach of the Year: Emma Hayes
- Men's Club of the Year: Real Madrid
- Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Why the Controversy Matters
The Real Madrid boycott wasn't just about one year. It was a protest against the new "criteria" that UEFA and France Football introduced. They wanted to emphasize "fair play" and "class." Madrid felt this was a direct shot at Vinícius Júnior, who has a bit of a fiery reputation on the pitch.
Is it fair? Probably not. But the Ballon d'Or has always been a bit of a popularity contest mixed with a stats sheet. The 100 journalists who vote are human. They get influenced by narratives. The narrative in 2024 shifted from "who is the most exciting" to "who is the most essential."
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If you’re a fan trying to make sense of all this, the takeaway is simple: the era of the "Mega-Star" (Messi/Ronaldo) is officially dead. We are in the era of the "System Star." Rodri and Aitana are the ultimate system players who also happen to be world-class individuals.
What You Should Do Next
If you want to really understand why these players won, don't just look at the goals.
- Watch a full 90 minutes of Rodri. Don't look at the ball; look at where he stands when his team doesn't have it. It’s a masterclass in positioning.
- Follow the tactical shifts. The 2024 results suggest that voters are moving away from flashy wingers and toward mid-field controllers.
- Keep an eye on Lamine Yamal. He’s the favorite for the 2025 Kopa, but he might be a dark horse for the main prize sooner than you think.
The 2024 Ballon d'Or winners proved that football is changing. The "invisible" work is finally being seen. Whether you love the drama or hate it, the 2024 ceremony will be remembered as the night the script finally got flipped.
Check the official France Football archives for the exact point breakdown if you're curious about how close the vote actually was—it was one of the tightest margins in a decade.
Explore the history of the award to see how defensive players have been snubbed in the past, making Rodri’s win even more significant. Look at the 2023 results to compare the trajectory of players like Erling Haaland, who dropped from 2nd to 5th this year.