Everyone thought they knew the script. The flight from Madrid was booked, the suits were tailored, and the social media posts were ready to go. But then, everything changed. In one of the most chaotic 24-hour periods in modern football history, the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony shifted from a predicted coronation for Vinícius Júnior into a historic night for a man who doesn't even have a social media account.
So, who won 2024 Ballon d'Or? It was Rodri.
Specifically, Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, the heartbeat of Manchester City and the Spanish national team. For the first time since 2003, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo was on the shortlist, marking a tectonic shift in the sport. But it wasn't just the absence of the "Big Two" that made the night in Paris feel different. It was the fact that a defensive midfielder—a "water carrier" in the eyes of some—stood on that stage with a golden ball while one of the world's most powerful clubs boycotted the building.
The Night the Script Was Scrapped
The drama started early on Monday, October 28, 2024. Reports began to leak that the Real Madrid contingent, including Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, would not be attending the Théâtre du Châtelet.
Why? Because they found out Vini wasn't the winner.
It was a bold, some say petty, move. Real Madrid was actually named the Men's Club of the Year, and Carlo Ancelotti won the Johan Cruyff Trophy for best coach. None of them were there to pick up the hardware. Instead, the night belonged to Rodri, who arrived on crutches due to a season-ending ACL injury. There’s something kinda poetic about the best player in the world winning the award while physically unable to play.
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Why Rodri Actually Won
Football has a bias toward goals. We love the highlight reels, the step-overs, and the 90th-minute screamers. Vinícius Júnior had plenty of those, especially during Madrid's Champions League run.
But the 2024 Ballon d'Or voting criteria emphasize three things: individual performance, team success, and "class and fair play."
Rodri’s season was a masterclass in control. He went 74 games unbeaten for club and country. Think about that for a second. More than a year of professional football at the highest level without losing a single match. He wasn't just a passenger; he was the engine. He won the Premier League with Manchester City and, perhaps most importantly, he was named the Player of the Tournament as Spain conquered Euro 2024.
He basically redefined what a defensive midfielder could be. He scored big goals, like the equalizer against Georgia or the title-deciding strikes for City, but his real value was in the 10,000 passes that kept his teams from ever losing their shape.
The Top 10 Standings (Men)
If you're looking for the cold, hard numbers, the gap between first and second was surprisingly tight. Rodri finished with 1,170 points, while Vinícius Júnior trailed with 1,129. That’s a margin of only 41 points—a razor-thin difference when you consider there were 99 voters from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations.
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- Rodri (Manchester City / Spain)
- Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid / Brazil)
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid / England)
- Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid / Spain)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City / Norway)
- Kylian Mbappé (PSG & Real Madrid / France)
- Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan / Argentina)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
- Toni Kroos (Real Madrid / Germany)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich / England)
Honestly, seeing Dani Carvajal at fourth is fascinating. He won everything Rodri won plus the Champions League, scoring in the final. Many Madrid fans argued that if the award was about trophies, it should have been Carvajal. If it was about flair, it should have been Vini. But Rodri captured the middle ground of excellence and consistency.
Aitana Bonmatí: The Queen Retains Her Throne
While the men's side was a whirlwind of controversy, the women's award was much more straightforward. Aitana Bonmatí won her second consecutive Ballon d'Or Féminin.
She is, quite simply, on a different planet right now.
Playing for Barcelona, she completed the quadruple: Liga F, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de España, and the UEFA Women's Champions League. She isn't just a winner; she's a dominant force. Alongside her teammates Caroline Graham Hansen (who came in second) and Salma Paralluelo (third), she led a Barcelona podium sweep that mirrored the famous 2010 Messi-Iniesta-Xavi era.
Other Major Awards on the Night
The ceremony wasn't just about the big gold balls. Several other stars took home major recognition, though the empty seats from the Madrid camp made the "Best Men's Club" announcement feel a bit awkward.
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- Kopa Trophy (Best Under-21): Lamine Yamal. At 17, he’s the youngest winner ever. He’s the future.
- Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper): Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez. He won it for the second year in a row, much to the annoyance of the French fans in attendance who still haven't forgiven him for the 2022 World Cup.
- Gerd Müller Trophy (Top Scorer): Shared between Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé, both finishing with 52 goals.
- Sócrates Award (Humanitarian Work): Jenni Hermoso, for her brave stand for equality in women's sports.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2024 Vote
There is a loud corner of the internet claiming the award was "stolen" from Vinícius. You’ve probably seen the "Robbery" hashtags. But honestly, the change in voting rules played a massive part.
In previous years, the award was sometimes a popularity contest based on a player's entire career. Now, it's strictly about the season at hand (August to August). This shift favored Rodri’s sustained excellence over the course of the whole year rather than just the high-stakes moments of the Champions League spring.
Also, the "fair play" criteria shouldn't be ignored. While Rodri is a quiet professional, Vinícius has had several high-profile clashes with referees and opponents. Whether that's fair or not is up for debate, but for the journalists voting, it clearly mattered.
Why This Matters for the Future
Rodri’s win is a victory for the "unseen" work in football. It tells young players that you don’t need to be a flashy winger to be the best in the world. You can be the guy who recovers the ball, makes the smart pass, and leads with intelligence.
Spain is officially back at the center of the footballing universe. With Rodri, Aitana, and Lamine Yamal all taking home trophies, the 2024 Ballon d'Or was a red-and-gold celebration.
If you want to track how this victory changes things, watch the market. Defensive midfielders are suddenly the most expensive and sought-after players in the world. The "Rodri Effect" is real. To truly understand the 2024 season, don't look at the goals—look at the win percentage. When Rodri played, his teams simply didn't lose. That is the definition of a Ballon d'Or winner.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the Tapes: Go back and watch Rodri's performance in the Euro 2024 semi-final against France. It’s a masterclass in positioning.
- Follow the Points: If you're a data nerd, look up the full breakdown of the 99 journalists' votes. It shows how widely opinions varied across different continents.
- Keep an Eye on 2025: With Rodri out for the 2024/25 season, the race for next year is wide open. Lamine Yamal and Jude Bellingham are already the early favorites.