Rodri and Aitana Bonmati Win The 2024 Ballon d’Or

The soccer world is different. Early in the morning, there were rumors that Real Madrid had pulled their players from attending the coveted 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris. They were pulled because Spanish midfielder Rodri was expected to win the 2024 award over Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham. We have followed almost every major soccer tournament in the past 12 months, and we were confident that Vini would win the trophy. But strange things have happened over the years and this year was no different.

We are not discrediting what Rodri did on the pitch for Manchester City or playing for Spain at the international level. He did win everything except the Champions League, and apparently, that was enough to secure him the trophy. Vinicius is coming off an embarrassing loss at home against their nemesis Barcelona, so it’s understandable why they decided to skip the award ceremony that they were expected not to win.

Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati has claimed the Ballon d’Or Féminin for the second year running, further solidifying her status as one of the sport’s brightest stars. This achievement caps off a phenomenal season in which she helped Barcelona secure an impressive quadruple, winning every major club trophy on offer. Known for her vision, skill, and leadership on the field, Bonmati’s contributions were instrumental in Barcelona’s success, including a standout performance in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final. Her back-to-back Ballon d’Or wins highlight her consistency and dominance at the top of women’s football.