PARIS — Spanish midfielders Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí gained the lads’s and girls’s Ballon d’Or award for the world’s finest soccer participant on Monday.
The 28-year-old Rodri gained the celebrated award for the primary time after serving to Manchester Metropolis win the Premier League and being a key participant in Spain’s European Championship triumph. He succeeded eight-time winner Lionel Messi of Argentina.
Rodri put his fingers over his face when his identify was learn out by former winner George Weah.
“Unbelievable evening for me,” mentioned Rodri, who’s out for the season after injuring his ACL final month and arrived on crutches to the ceremony. “Considered one of my key issues is I at all times attempt to enhance each sport.”
The 26-year-old Bonmatí retained her award after serving to Barcelona win the Spanish league, the Spanish cup and the Champions League. Bonmatí joined Barca teammate Alexia Putellas in successful two titles for the reason that ladies’s trophy was first awarded in 2018. She beat her teammates Caroline Graham Hansen of Norway and Salma Paralluelo of Spain as Barcelona accomplished a 1-2-3.
“It’s a pleasure to be right here once more,” mentioned Bonmatí, who acquired the award from Oscar winner Natalie Portman. “Because of my teammates and the golf equipment who make me a greater soccer participant yearly.”
Vinícius Júnior was among the many 4 males’s finalists together with his Actual Madrid teammates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal. However nobody from Madrid attended the gala in central Paris, though Carlo Ancelotti gained the coach of the yr award.
Vinícius had been seen as one of many favorites for the award till making the choice to not journey to Paris for the ceremony. The choice was made by Madrid, in accordance with an individual who works with Vinícius and spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity as a result of he wasn’t licensed to discuss the participant’s whereabouts publicly.
Vinícius completed second within the voting, with Bellingham third.
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Neither Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo — winners of the celebrated particular person award a mixed 13 instances — have been within the working for this yr’s prize — the primary time that’s occurred since 2003.
Whereas Rodri is just not a flamboyant participant or a prolific scorer like Messi and Ronaldo, he had an enormous affect on Metropolis’s staff together with his capacity to guard the protection and distribute passes cleanly from the again.
“I attempt to be a pacesetter and attempt to enhance on daily basis from the most effective,” Rodri mentioned.
Metropolis appeared unbeatable at instances with him within the facet, whereas his glorious technical capacity enabled him to fit easily into the quick-passing type made so efficient by Spain at Euro 2024.
Bonmatí scored 19 objectives for the second straight season for Barca and this yr has netted 5 in 5 video games for Spain, taking her worldwide tally to 26.
The Ballon d’Or was created by France Soccer journal and has been awarded since 1956 for the lads, and since 2018 for the ladies. It’s voted for by journalists from the highest 100 nations within the FIFA rankings.
Every journalist, one per nation, selects 10 gamers in ranked order, with factors attributed to every place. The winner is the participant who receives probably the most factors. Not like FIFA’s awards for the most effective gamers every year, followers aren’t a part of the voting system.
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