The 2024 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony celebrated football’s finest, with Spain’s Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí capturing the men’s and women’s titles. The event took place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 28, recognizing top players, coaches, and clubs for their outstanding performances over the past year.
Rodri Secures First Ballon d’Or Title
- Winner: Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)
- Achievements: Contributed to Manchester City’s Premier League win and Spain’s Euro 2024 victory. Rodri also won Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024.
Rodri, a 28-year-old midfielder, outperformed players like Vinícius Junior and Jude Bellingham to secure his first Ballon d’Or, making him the second Spaniard to earn this title after Luis Suárez in 1960.
Aitana Bonmatí Retains Women’s Ballon d’Or Title
- Winner: Aitana Bonmatí (FC Barcelona, Spain)
- Achievements: Helped Barcelona win Liga F, Spanish Super Cup, Champions League, and Copa de la Reina.
Aitana Bonmatí, who received her award from actress Natalie Portman, triumphed for the second consecutive year, leading a Barcelona 1-2-3 finish with Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo following her in the rankings.
Previous Year Ballon d’Or Winners (Male and Female)
The Ballon d’Or has a long-standing tradition of recognizing the best male and female football players worldwide. Below is a table summarizing the previous winners for both categories over the past years.
Ballon d’Or Winners – Male
| Year | Name | Country | Club(s) |
| 2023 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Paris Saint Germain (PSG) |
| 2022 | Karim Benzema | France | Real Madrid |
| 2021 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona/PSG |
| 2019 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona |
| 2018 | Luka Modrić | Croatia | Real Madrid |
| 2017 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid |
| 2016 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid |
| 2015 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona |
| 2014 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid |
Note: The Ballon d’Or was not awarded in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ballon d’Or Winners – Female
| Year | Name | Country | Club |
| 2023 | Aitana Bonmatí | Spain | Barcelona |
| 2022 | Alexia Putellas | Spain | Barcelona |
| 2021 | Alexia Putellas | Spain | Barcelona |
| 2019 | Megan Rapinoe | USA | Reign FC |
| 2018 | Ada Hegerberg | Norway | Olympique Lyonnais |
Note: The Ballon d’Or Féminin award was also not presented in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
About the Ballon d’Or Awards
- Introduction: Established by France Football magazine, the Ballon d’Or is awarded annually to the best male and female footballers globally. The men’s award was initiated in 1956, and the women’s category, known as Ballon d’Or Féminin, was introduced in 2018.
- Selection Process: Football journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries vote for the men’s award, while journalists from the top 50 countries select the women’s award winners.
Complete 2024 Ballon d’Or Award Winners
| Award | Winner | Club(s) |
| Men’s Ballon d’Or | Rodri | Manchester City |
| Women’s Ballon d’Or | Aitana Bonmatí | FC Barcelona |
| Kopa Trophy | Lamine Yamal | FC Barcelona |
| Yashin Trophy | Emiliano Martínez | Aston Villa |
| Gerd Müller Trophy | Kylian Mbappé & Harry Kane | PSG/Real Madrid & Bayern Munich |
| Men’s Coach of the Year | Carlo Ancelotti | Real Madrid |
| Women’s Coach of the Year | Emma Hayes | Chelsea |
| Men’s Club of the Year | Real Madrid | |
| Women’s Club of the Year | FC Barcelona | |
| Socrates Award | Jenni Hermoso | Tigres UANL |
Key Highlights and Honors
- Kopa Trophy: Awarded to Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) for his remarkable achievements as the best under-21 player.
- Yashin Trophy: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa) was recognized as the best goalkeeper of the year.
- Gerd Müller Trophy: Shared by Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé, each scoring 52 goals across all competitions.
- Socrates Award: Jenni Hermoso was celebrated for her humanitarian contributions.
2024 Ballon d’Or Awards Summary
- Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí won the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or awards.
- Lamine Yamal received the Kopa Trophy for young players, and Emiliano Martínez was awarded the Yashin Trophy for goalkeeping.
- Real Madrid and Barcelona were named Men’s and Women’s Clubs of the Year, respectively.
- Carlo Ancelotti and Emma Hayes won Coach of the Year awards.
Also Read Latest Current Affairs 2024
Rodri from Manchester City and Spain won the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or.
Aitana Bonmatí of Barcelona won the 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or for the second year in a row.
The Kopa Trophy is awarded to the best player under 21, which Lamine Yamal from Barcelona won in 2024.
Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé shared the Gerd Müller Trophy for scoring the highest goals.
Real Madrid was named Men’s Club of the Year for their success in UEFA and La Liga competitions.
Emiliano Martínez from Aston Villa received the Yashin Trophy as the best goalkeeper.
The Ballon d’Or was first awarded in 1956 by France Football, with Stanley Matthews as the inaugural winner.
