Rodri Hernández was unexpectedly crowned the winner of the Ballon d’Or 2024, beating Vinícius Júnior, who was the overwhelming favourite to win the award. The surprise was unleashed at the gala in Paris, where Rodri received the accolade after an exceptional season with Manchester City. The Spanish midfielder was instrumental in winning the European Championship, where he was also named MVP, as well as contributing to winning the Premier League, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup. Vinícius Júnior, meanwhile, had a brilliant year with Real Madrid, winning the Spanish League, Champions League and Spanish Super Cup, which made his defeat in the voting all the more unexpected.

With his Ballon d’Or 2024 triumph, Rodri Hernández became only the second Spaniard in history to receive the prestigious award, joining legend Luis Suárez, who won it in 1960. This milestone not only highlights Rodri’s impact on international football, but also underlines the relevance of Spanish talent in today’s football landscape.

Real Madrid Real turns down Ballon d’Or ceremony in protest

Real Madrid decided at the last minute not to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, showing their displeasure at discovering that Vinícius Júnior, favourite to win the award, would not be honoured. This announcement came as a surprise to both the organisers and football fans, who had expected a strong club presence at the event. The Madrid delegation, initially made up of 50 people, decided to remain in Madrid. The team’s stance reflects a protest not only at the lack of recognition for Vinícius but also for Dani Carvajal, another prominent nominee. In addition, Carlo Ancelotti, who won the title of best coach of the year, was also absent, as were the players. The Ballon d’Or organisers commented on their bewilderment at the decision, especially as this year they kept the identity of the winner secret until the gala, in contrast to the custom of informing the winner in advance.

How the Ballon d'Or voting system works

The Ballon d’Or, organised since 1956 by France Football magazine, is awarded after a voting process involving 100 specialised journalists from the top-ranked FIFA countries. In its early years, the award only recognised European players. In the 1990s, the competition was opened to players of other nationalities playing for European clubs, and since 2006 it has been extended to include players of any nationality and club worldwide.

To select the winner, journalists from L’Équipe and France Football choose 30 nominees. Each journalist from the different countries then chooses his or her top 10: each place receives a score. The ten selected players receive 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point respectively. The selection criteria consider individual performance, team achievements and fair play. The player with the most points at the end of the voting wins the Ballon d’Or.

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