France Football hosted the Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual trophy award ceremony of the year, Sunday, Oct. 28 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France. The ceremony, marking the 68th iteration of naming a winner, occurs once a year and takes into account the performances of players throughout the previous season, which spans from fall to spring. Specifically, the criteria evaluates individual performance, character, team performance and achievements, class, sportsmanship, and fair play of players from across the world. Over the years, those who have received the award — and even runners-up — have typically been cemented into football history as some of the greatest players to ever grace the pitch, such as eight-time winner Lionel Messi and 18-time nominee Cristiano Ronaldo.
The ceremony in October was met both with anticipation and disagreement over who would receive the 2024 trophy. The discussion centered mainly around the prospect of the Manchester City F.C. and Spanish national defensive midfielder Rodri winning the award for a stellar season, both with club and country. With City, Rodri managed a record-breaking 74-match winning streak across all competitions; every time he played with City during this streak, they emerged victorious. This has set the record as the longest winning streak in European football history. At the end of the 2023–24 season, Rodri lifted the Premier League trophy — the highest trophy in England’s top league — with Manchester City for the fourth consecutive year, breaking the record for most Premier League wins in a row. Additionally, over the summer, Rodri appeared for Spain in UEFA’s Euro 2024 tournament, in which he also assisted Spain to victory in a perfect campaign that ended with a 2–1 win over England.
The disagreement about this year’s victor stemmed from the display of Real Madrid CF and Brazilian national winger Vinícius Jr. during the 2023–24 season. Boasting one of the most impressive seasons in the world, Vini helped his club to a perfect La Liga title — the highest trophy in Spain’s top league — and an equally perfect UEFA Champions League title — Europe’s highest club trophy — notably defeating title holders Manchester City in the quarterfinals on penalties. When Vini took to the pitch for his club in these competitions, they went undefeated. He netted 26 goals and 11 assists in 49 games, an impressive feat for a winger. Some of these goals decided crucial games and displayed his skill, such as a hat trick against Catalan rivals FC Barcelona and the decisive goal in their Champions League final against German club Borussia Dortmund. Many noted that Vini this season was in the best form of his life, arguing that he even cemented himself as one of the best active players in the world of football.
In the leadup to the Oct. 28 Ballon d’Or ceremony, the tensions between Vini, Real Madrid as a whole, and the football world grew. Speculation that Rodri, while not holding nearly the same scoring record as Vini, would prevail as this year’s winner grew. Within the 24 hours prior to the ceremony, Real Madrid announced that the club — including their esteemed manager, Carlos Ancelotti, and Vini himself — would not be traveling to Paris to participate in the ceremony. This all but drove the final nail into the coffin of any doubt of Rodri not being this year’s pick. It also further divided the discussion on the Ballon d’Or as a legitimate, qualified organization.
Despite the controversy, with the announcement of Rodri as the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or winner, he is now certainly cemented in football history as one of the best defensive midfielders of all time. The immediate reaction to Rodri’s win was mixed. Many believed that, while Rodri merited recognition for his display this past season, Vini’s overall season was more deserving. This is not to say Vini was not recognized — he earned second place in the rankings, above his Real Madrid teammate and English national midfielder Jude Bellingham at third. Real Madrid was crowned the best men’s club of the 2023–24 season, and, simultaneously, Ancelotti won best men’s manager of the season, beating manager Xabi Alonso — who guided his German club, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, to the first-ever undefeated Bundesliga season in the country’s history. Shortly after the announcement that he had earned second, Vini responded publicly with a post on X, stating: “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”
Shortly into the beginning of the 2024–25 season in September, Rodri tore his ACL in City’s 2–2 draw against Arsenal F.C. that ultimately ended his season. Without Rodri and his creativity in the midfield, it is evident that City is struggling; since its 2–1 EFL Cup elimination against Tottenham Hotspur F.C. in October, City has been winless across all competitions for their past four games — the last time this happened for City was 2006.
What is also bolstering Rodri’s legitimacy is Real Madrid’s performance this season. Currently trailing Barcelona by six points in La Liga, the club has not been having the season it hoped for after acquiring French forward Kylian Mbappé on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain this summer. One of the most telling signs of this lapse was its Oct. 26 El Clásico 0–4 loss to Barcelona. Vini has played every match for Real Madrid this season, so his absence cannot be blamed for the club’s less-than-stellar record so far.
As the season progresses and players’ performances continue to be evaluated, perhaps Vini will see himself on the podium again for the 2025 Ballon d’Or as he claimed he would strive for. Or, if Real Madrid continues to struggle, will someone new be crowned the champion, and will the debate surrounding the Ballon d’Or’s legitimacy be stirred once again?
