Manchester City midfielder, Rodri has won this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or award, surpassing competition from Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Dani Carvajal, while Barcelona star, Aitana Bonmati won her second consecutive women’s Ballon d’Or award.
Rodri, who became the second Premier League Player to win the prestigious award in 16 years since Cristiano Ronaldo won it in 2008, has enjoyed an impressive season, having won the Premier League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup with Manchester City, as well as Euro 2024 with Spain.
Also, an absent Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti defeated the likes of Bayer Leverkusen’s manager, Xabi Alonso, Manchester City’s Pepe Guardiola, Argentine head coach, Lionel Scaloni and Spain’s Luis de la Fuente to clinched the Coach of the Year award at the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles player and Atalanta winger, Ademola Lookman has finished 14th position in this year’s Men’s Ballon d’Or award held last night in Paris, France.
Lookman, who is the only African player to make the 30-man shortlist in this year’s Ballon d’Or award, caught the eye of Europe after he netted a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen and this Ballon D’OR ranking, makes Lookman the third-highest-ranked Nigerian player in the history of the awards after Victor Osimhen who remains the highest ranked player, finishing 8th position last year while Nwankwo Kanu is in second place after he ranked 11th in the 1996 Ballon d’Or.