REAL MADRID boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony as Rodri beat Vinicius Jr to football’s top individual gong.
The injured Manchester City star, who needed crutches to collect his award, was crowned the best player on the planet in a shock announcement on Monday night.
ReutersMan City star Rodri has won this year’s Ballon d’Or[/caption]
AFPThe Spaniard is officially the best player on the planet[/caption]
ReutersThe injured ace arrived at the glittering ceremony on crutches[/caption]
Rodri was escorted to his trophy by host and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba
GettyReal Madrid, who were named Team of the Year, snubbed the ceremony after Vinicius Jr finished second[/caption]
ReutersHarry Kane finished 10th as he won the Gerd Muller Trophy for top scorer[/caption]
APLamine Yamal came eighth while also scooping the Kopa Trophy for best youngster[/caption]
Brazilian winger Vinicius had looked a shoe-in for his first Ballon d’Or trophy after leading Real to an incredible league and European double last season.
The ace was widely predicted to become the latest Los Blancos champion of this century following Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fabio Cannavaro, Ronaldo Nazario and Luis Figo.
However, it emerged on Monday afternoon that Man City hero and Spain Euro winner Rodri was instead being crowned king of the jungle.
The tearful anchorman later received his prize at a glittering ceremony snubbed by Real in Paris, with teammate Erling Haaland joining him in the top 10.
Rodri, who ruptured his ACL earlier this season, was aided by Chelsea legend and host Didier Drogba up the steps before delivering an emotional speech.
Thanking his family and teammates, Rodri noted: “It’s a very special day, for me, my family and my country. I try to improve every day, try to level up my game.
“I am just trying to take care of myself. Rest, enjoy the free time with my family and come back stronger.”
Vinicius came in second, with Real’s England superstar Jude Bellingham completing the top three ahead of Dani Carvajal and Haaland.
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Elsewhere, seventh-place Lautaro Martinez was sandwiched between Kylian Mbappe and 17-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal, who also won the Kopa Trophy for best youngster.
While recently retired Toni Kroos and England captain Harry Kane, also joint-winner of the Gerd Muller Trophy with Mbappe for top scorer, took ninth and tenth respectively.
Ballon d’Or 2024 results
1: Rodri, Man City and Spain
2: Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid and Brazil
3: Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid and England
4: Dani Carvajal, Real Madrid and Spain
5: Erling Haaland, Man City and Norway
6: Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid and France
7: Lautaro Martinz, Inter Milan and Argentina
8: Lamine Yamal, Barcelona and Spain
9: Toni Kroos, Real Madrid and Germany
10: Harry Kane, Bayern Munich and England
11: Phil Foden, Man City and England
12: Florian Wirtz, Bayer Leverkusen and Germany
13: Dani Olmo, Barcelona and Spain
14: Ademola Lookman, Atalanta and Nigeria
15: Nico Williams, Athletic Bilbao and Spain
16: Granit Xhaka, Bayer Leverkusen and Switzerland
17: Federico Valverde, Real Madrid and Uruguay
18: Emi Martinez, Aston Villa and Argentina
19: Martin Odegaard, Arsenal and Norway
20: Hakan Calhanoglu, Inter Milan and Turkey
21: Bukayo Saka, Arsenal and England
22: Antonio Rudiger, Real Madrid and Germany
23: Ruben Dias, Man City and Portugal
24: William Saliba, Arsenal and France
25: Cole Palmer, Chelsea and England
26: Declan Rice, Arsenal and England
27: Vitinha, PSG and Portugal
28: Alejandro Grimaldo, Bayer Leverkusen and Spain
29: Mats Hummels, Roma and Germany
30: Artem Dovbyk, Roma and Ukraine
The result marked the first time in the last decade that the Ballon d’Or did NOT go to a Real Madrid player after they had won the Champions League.
The snub to Vinicius is said to have left Florentino Perez “furious”, with Real’s president cancelling his club’s appearance at tonight’s ceremony despite them being named Team of the Year.
Reports even claimed City chiefs were the ones to inform their Real counterparts of the decision.
Vinicius scored six and assisted four more in just ten Champions League games as Real won their 15th European crown last term.
The Brazilian even scored the second in the 2-0 final win over Borussia Dortmund.
Vini Jr was also involved in 20 goals in just 26 LaLiga games last season.
And Real reportedly accused organisers of showing disrespect in their decision to award the Ballon d’Or elsewhere.
AlamyJude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe finished in the top 10[/caption]
GettyRodri’s Man City teammate Erling Haaland came fifth[/caption]
GettyPhil Foden finished one place behind Kane in 11th[/caption]
Real also felt if there was to be another winner, the Ballon d’Or should have gone to Dani Carvajal after he added the Euros trophy to his domestic double.
A statement read: “If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner.
“As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or-Uefa does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.”
As well as cancelling any appearance by the club and their players at Monday’s event, Real also took the axe to their in-house TV channel.
It’s claimed Los Blancos had put FIVE hours aside for a Ballon d’Or special this evening.
GettyEmi Martinez was named the top goalie in world football[/caption]
GettyCarlo Ancelotti was not present to collect his Manager of the Year award[/caption]
ReutersEmma Hayes was the Women’s Manager of the Year[/caption]
ReutersBarcelona’s Aitana Bonmati was named Women’s Player of the Year again[/caption]
Elsewhere, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer came 25th in the final standings, one spot ahead of Arsenal’s Declan Rice.
Gunners pal Bukayo Saka came 21st, with Man City ace Phil Foden finishing 11th.
Aston Villa goalie Emi Martinez was once again handed the Yashin Trophy.
While Carlo Ancelotti was named Men’s Manager of the Year.
Former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes, now with the USA, won the Women’s equivalent.
While Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the second year running as her club were named Women’s Team of the Year.
All winners of the Ballon d’Or this century
2024: Rodri, Man City and Spain
2023: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami and Argentina
2022: Karim Benzema, Real Madrid and France
2021: Lionel Messi, PSG and Argentina
2020: Not Awarded
2019: Lionel Messi, Barcelona and Argentina
2018: Luka Modric, Real Madrid and Croatia
2017: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid and Portugal
2016: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid and Portugal
2015: Lionel Messi, Barcelona and Argentina
2014: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid and Portugal
2013: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid and Portugal
2012: Lionel Messi, Barcelona and Argentina
2011: Lionel Messi, Barcelona and Argentina
2010: Lionel Messi, Barcelona and Argentina
2009: Lionel Messi, Barcelona and Argentina
2008: Cristiano Ronaldo, Man Utd and Portugal
2007: Kaka, AC Milan and Brazil
2006: Fabio Cannavaro, Real Madrid and Italy
2005: Ronaldinho, Barcelona and Brazil
2004: Andriy Shevchenko, AC Milan and Ukraine
2003: Pavel Nedved, Juventus and Czechia
2002: Ronaldo Nazario, Real Madrid and Brazil
2001: Michael Owen, Liverpool and England
2000: Luis Figo, Real Madrid and Portugal