The Ballon d’Or continues to be the ultimate accolade every footballer aspires to achieve. Following a remarkable 2023-24 season, the prestigious 2024 Golden Ball has been awarded to Rodri.
The Manchester City and Spain midfielder has firmly established himself as the leading No. 6 in the world. His pivotal role helped City secure an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title, and he also shone at Euro 2024, earning Player of the Tournament honors as Spain triumphed in Germany.
Rodri’s contributions extended beyond defensive duties; he elevated his attacking game significantly, recording 12 goals and 15 assists throughout the season. Notably, he experienced defeat only once in 90 minutes, with that loss occurring in the FA Cup final.
In securing his first Ballon d’Or, Rodri outperformed Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham, who finished second and third, respectively. Both players were instrumental in Real Madrid’s success in La Liga and the Champions League.
Here’s how the rest of the 30-man shortlist ranked:
=29. Artem Dovbyk (Roma)
Dovbyk played a crucial role for Girona, scoring 24 goals and winning the top scorer award before joining Roma.
=29. Mats Hummels (Roma)
The experienced defender showcased his talent at 35, playing every minute of Borussia Dortmund’s run to the Champions League final before transferring to Roma.
28. Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
Grimaldo had an outstanding season, contributing 10 goals and 13 assists as Bayer Leverkusen claimed their first title.
27. Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
The Portuguese midfielder was vital in PSG’s Ligue 1 title victory and their journey to the Champions League semi-finals.
26. Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Rice proved his worth after joining Arsenal, scoring seven goals and providing eight assists while featuring prominently for England at Euro 2024.
25. Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Palmer was exceptional for Chelsea, netting 22 goals and assisting 11, playing a key role in England’s Euro 2024 campaign.
24. William Saliba (Arsenal)
Saliba was a cornerstone of Arsenal’s defense, playing every minute of the Premier League season and contributing to France’s success.
23. Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Dias was instrumental in Manchester City’s title defense, making 45 appearances and helping Portugal reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
22. Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
Rudiger was a consistent performer for club and country, playing every minute for Germany in Euro 2024.
21. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
The talented winger was a crucial part of Arsenal’s title challenge and contributed significantly to England’s Euro 2024 campaign.
20. Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter)
Calhanoglu played a key role in Inter’s Serie A success, scoring 13 goals and captaining Turkey in the Euros.
19. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal)
The Arsenal captain contributed eight goals and 10 assists, helping his team compete fiercely for the Premier League title.
18. Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Martinez was vital for Aston Villa, leading them to a fourth-place finish and excelling with Argentina in the Copa America.
17. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
Valverde was crucial in Real Madrid’s success, missing only one game and captaining Uruguay in the Copa America.
16. Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen)
Xhaka played a significant role in Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten title-winning season and DFB-Pokal triumph.
15. Nico Williams (Athletic Club)
Williams had an impressive season in La Liga, scoring five goals and assisting 11 while helping Spain win Euro 2024.
14. Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
Lookman had a standout year, notably scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final and leading Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations final.
13. Dani Olmo (Barcelona)
Olmo continued to excel with RB Leipzig and made crucial contributions to Spain’s Euro 2024 success, leading to his transfer to Barcelona.
12. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Wirtz demonstrated his potential, contributing 11 goals and 11 assists in the Bundesliga and continuing his rise as one of Europe’s top talents.
11. Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Foden scored 19 goals in the Premier League and started all seven of England’s Euro 2024 matches, solidifying his status.
10. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Kane made a seamless transition to Bayern Munich, scoring prolifically despite a challenging Euro 2024.
9. Toni Kroos (Retired)
The German legend retired as an icon, helping Real Madrid achieve a double and maintaining his presence in the German squad during the Euros.
8. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
At just 17, Yamal impressed for Barcelona and had a significant impact on Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign.
7. Lautaro Martinez (Inter)
Martinez scored 24 goals in Serie A and played a key role in Argentina’s Copa America victory.
6. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
Despite off-field drama, Mbappé enjoyed a stellar season, netting 44 goals and leading France at the Euros.
5. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
The Norwegian goal machine scored 27 goals in 31 Premier League matches and added six in the Champions League, further establishing himself as the best finisher in the game.
4. Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
Carvajal continued to be a vital player for both club and country, scoring in the Champions League final and celebrating success in the Euros.
3. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Bellingham had a phenomenal debut season at Real Madrid, scoring 23 goals and assisting 11, contributing to England’s Euro 2024 run.
2. Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid)
Vinicius delivered an electrifying campaign, scoring 31 goals and playing a crucial role in Real Madrid’s success.
1. Rodri (Manchester City)
Rodri’s importance to Manchester City is undeniable; his presence on the pitch correlates with the team’s success. He capped off an incredible year by winning Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024, contributing to his club and country’s achievements.