Pep Guardiola insisted Tuesday that Rodri was a worthy winner of the Ballon d’Or, insisting no “elite group” had decided the Manchester City midfielder should be crowned the world’s best footballer.
Watch acceptance speeches of award recipients at the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony that took place in Paris on Monday.
The Ballon d’Or continues to be a highly anticipated event in the football calendar, celebrating the sport’s finest talent and their contributions to the game. Watch Tifo football explain why the Ballon d’Or isn’t what people think.
Real Madrid and Belgium goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois won the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony. The Belgian shot-stopper registered twenty-three clean sheets in fifty-seven matches as he was the rock that helped Real Madrid win the La Liga and Champions League trophies.
Karim Benzema became the oldest player to win the Ballon d’Or in 66 years. This comes after an outstanding season for the Frenchman where he led Real Madrid to LaLiga and Champions League glory as the top goalscorer in both competitions.
On a special evening where he finished second behind Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane won the inaugural Socrates Award at the Ballon d’Or Awards ceremony for his charitable efforts in his home country Senegal.
Real Madrid’s France star Karim Benezema deserves to win the Ballon d’Or, according to seven-time laureate Lionel Messi.
Cristiano Ronaldo has dismissed claims from a French journalist that his main aim is to finish his career with more Ballon d’Or wins than Lionel Messi.
Robert Lewandowski scored 48 goals in a season and still didn’t win the Ballon d’Or – don’t worry Bobby, you’re in good company …
Lionel Messi is the 2021 Ballon d’Or winner – and while there are plenty who are happy to see the award back with the Argentinian, others have questioned what Leo has done to deserve it.