In a historic evening for Spanish football, midfielders Rodri and Aitana Bonmati were crowned the best players in the world at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony on Monday. Rodri, representing Manchester City, clinched the prestigious men’s award, while Barcelona’s Bonmati secured the women’s accolade for the second consecutive year.
Rodri’s exceptional performance over the past season was instrumental in Manchester City’s unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title. His pivotal role didn’t stop at club level; he was also named the best player at this year’s European Championship after leading Spain to a record-extending fourth title.
The 28-year-old Madrid native made history as the first defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d’Or since Lothar Matthaus in 1990 and became the third Spaniard ever to claim the prize, following in the footsteps of legends Alfredo Di Stefano and Luis Suarez. Despite Spain’s rich football heritage and dominance in international competitions, Rodri is the first Spaniard to win the award since Suarez in 1960.
Expressing his pride, Rodri dedicated his win to Spanish football and to midfielders whose work often goes unnoticed. “Today is not a victory for me; it is for Spanish football, for so many players who have not won it and have deserved it, like Iniesta, Xavi, Casillas, Busquets,” he said. “I’m a regular guy with values, who studies, who tries to do things right and doesn’t try to follow the stereotypes, and even so I have been able to get to the top.”
Rodri’s recognition marks a significant shift in the football landscape, being only the third player not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the award since 2008. Notably, this year was the first since 2003 that neither Messi nor Ronaldo made the final list of nominees.
On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmati continued to shine by winning the Ballon d’Or for the second year running. Her outstanding performances have cemented her status as one of the leading figures in women’s football, contributing to Barcelona’s success in both the European and Spanish leagues last season.
Spain’s rising talent Lamine Yamal was honored with the Kopa Trophy for the best Under-21 player, after helping Spain achieve a perfect Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. Additionally, Jennifer Hermoso received the Socrates Award for her role in advocating for women’s rights in football and her courageous stance against sexism in the sport.
Despite the celebrations, Real Madrid reportedly chose to boycott the ceremony, anticipating that their star Vinicius Jr would not win the men’s award. Nevertheless, the club was recognized as the men’s club of the year, and their manager Carlo Ancelotti was named men’s coach of the year.
The evening highlighted Spain’s profound impact on world football, celebrating both its seasoned professionals and emerging talents who continue to shape the future of the sport.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
