Rodri and Aitana Bonmati of Spain bags 2024 Ballon d'Or football award

Rodri and Aitana Bonmati of Spain won football's most prestigious Ballon d’Or award for the best male and female footballer, respectively. The 2024 Ballon d’Or award winners were announced at a ceremony held at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, on 28 October 2024. The Ballon d’Or, or the Golden Ball Award, is considered one of the most prestigious awards in football and has been awarded since 1956, except in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

First award for Rodri and the second consecutive for Aitana Bonmati 

Spanish and Manchester City midfielder Rodri won his first Ballon d’Or award. He beat England’s Jude Bellingham and Brazil’s Vinícius Junior for the top individual honour in men’s football.

Rodri had a terrific 2024 football season. He played a crucial role in Manchester City’s fourth consecutive Premier League title and was part of the Spanish national side that won the 2024 Euro Cup.

Rodri is the second Spanish footballer to win the  Ballon d’Or award after Luis Suarez in 1960.

Barcelona and Spanish women's football player Aitana Bonmati won her second consecutive Ballon d’Or Féminin award, having won it in 2023.

In 2024, Aitana Bomatti helped her club side Barcelona win Liga F, the Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, and the Copa de la Reina titles.

Aitana Bonmati beat fellow Barcelona teammates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo to win the award.

2024 award winners Full List

• Men’s Ballon d’Or: Rodri of Spain ( Manchester City Club and Spain)
• Women’s Ballon d’Or - Aitana Bonmatí of Spain( Barcelona Club and Spain)
• Gerd Müller Trophy (Top scorer)-  Harry Kane of England ( Bayern Munich Club and England)  and Kylian Mbappé of France ( PSG/Real Madrid  Club and France).
• Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper)-  Emiliano Martínez of Argentina (Aston Villa Club and Argentina)
• Kopa Trophy (Best Player Under-21)- Lamine Yamal of Spain(Barcelona Club and Spain)
• Socrates Award (Awarded for recognition of humanitarian work)-  Jennifer Hermoso of Spain(Club Tigres Femenil and Spain)
• Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy winner (Women’s Coach of the Year) - Emma Hayes of England ( Coach of Chelsea Club and USA)
• Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy Winner (Men’s Coach of the Year )-  Carlo Ancelotti of Italy(coach of  Real Madrid Club)
• Women’s Club of the Year- Barcelona Femení Club of Spain
• Men’s Club of the Year-  Real Madrid Club of Spain

About the Ballon d'Or Award

The Ballon d'Or award was instituted by the French news magazine France Football. 

It has been awarded since 1956, and Stanley Matthews of England was the first player to receive it.

Initially, the award was for a European player, but in 1995, it was open to all football players worldwide.

The Ballon d'Or award for the best women footballer was instituted in 2018, and it is known as Ballon d'Or Féminin.

Norway’s Ada Hegerberg was the first Ballon d'Or Féminin award winner.

Argentinian Player Lionel Messi holds the record for most Ballon d'Or awards. He has won it eight times: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023.

Football journalists select the winner of the Ballon d'Or award. For the men’s award, one journalist from each of the top 100-ranked FIFA countries votes, while for the women, one journalist from each of the top 50-ranked football countries votes.