2024-10-29 03:50:06
“Incredible night for me tonight,” said Rodri. “I’ve so many thanks to so many people. For France Football and UEFA, and for those who voted for me, who put their trust in me. It is very special for me, and my family, for the values they have taught me. For helping me become the man I am. Who would have thought I’d be here? This is a victory for Spanish football.”
Ballon d’Or Feminin: Aitana Bonmati
Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal
Men’s Coach of the Year: Carlo Ancelotti
Women’s Coach of the Year: Emma Hayes
Yashin Trophy: Emiliano Martinez
Men’s Club of the Year: Real Madrid
Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona
Gerd Muller Trophy: Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe
“When you are growing and have more experience, you have confidence,” said Bonmati. “It is not about the trophies, it is about having my teammates next to me. I am a humble person. I’m the same person I was 15 years ago with my feet right on the ground. This is what makes me happy.”
“Thank you to my club Bayern Munich, staff, teammates, for helping me score all the goals I scored,” said Kane after receiving the award from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
“It’s an honour to take this award from a club legend, thank you very much.”
“I think he’s very mature in the way he plays,” said Gullit. “I think he has a huge future ahead of him and will win many trophies.
“I saw him in the Euros final against England. History was in his hands. We need young players, we need players to have the talent and show it. This is the thing we miss. We live in an era of players taking one or two touches, but we need to see players dribbling please!”
“I’m so proud to receive this award,” says the young Barcelona winger after receiving the trophy from Ruud Gullit. He’s only 17.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has backed one of his own players to be the next recipient of the prestigious Ballon d’Or award – midfielder Rodri. Guardiola insists that his compatriot is simply “the best”, and believes that the former Atletico Madrid man can succeed Lionel Messi as the world’s best men’s player.
‘He is the best!’ – Guardiola backs Rodri for 2024 Ballon d’Or
TNT Sports and Eurosport are running this dedicated live blog throughout the ceremony from Paris on Monday, October 28.
You can follow all the developments right here.
The first names in the countdown to the winner of the women’s Ballon d’Or have been revealed!
TNT Sports and Eurosport are running this dedicated live blog throughout the ceremony on Monday, October 28.
You can follow all the developments right here.
‘He is the best!’ – Guardiola backs Rodri for 2024 Ballon d’Or
It is still a case of if Rodri wins, but if the Spain midfielder does triumph he would be the first man from his country to lift the trophy in over 60 years, according to this post.
Easy does it for the Man City star, as he exits his transport via crutches.
Lamine Yamal, who is the hot favourite for the Kopa award, may well be a future Ballon d’Or winner too.
Nominees for the Kopa Trophy (for the best player under the age of 21 as of 31 July 2024):
Pau Cubarsí (Spain, Barcelona)
Alejandro Garnacho (Argentina, Manchester United)
Arda Güler (Türkiye, Real Madrid)
Karim Konaté (Ivory Coast, Salzburg)
Kobbie Mainoo (England, Manchester United)
João Neves (Portugal, Benfica / Paris Saint-Germain)
Savinho (Brazil, Girona / Manchester City)
Mathys Tel (France, Bayern München)
Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
Warren Zaïre-Emery (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
As per RMC Sport’s Fabrice Hawkins’ post: “Vinicius Jr.’s entourage is now convinced that he will not be named Ballon d’Or. Everyone in Madrid has this feeling.”
Things are beginning to spice up. The Real Madrid rumours are swirling and others stars are arriving in France.
A reminder of the 2024 Ballon d’Or running order…
16:50 GMT – Ranking reveal commences counting down from No.30
17.50 GMT – Red carpet: the big names begin to arrive
19.45 GMT – The Ceremony
A montage of the Spaniard’s goals for Manchester City last season.
Rumours are rife that Real Madrid could avoid the ceremony with a suggestion their Brazilian forward will NOT win the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
TNT Sports and Eurosport will run a dedicated live blog throughout the ceremony on Monday, October 28.
‘He deserves it more than anybody else!’ – Scaloni backs Martinez for Ballon d’Or
Joao Felix is the latest player to back Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior to scoop the Ballon d’Or award on Monday.
The Brazilian is the favourite to take the crown for the first time after starring for Los Blancos during a 2023/24 season that yielded a La Liga title and a 15th UEFA Champions League.
And asked by TNT Sports who he thought would win this year’s Ballon d’Or, Felix was in no doubt.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or running order
16:50 GMT – Ranking reveal commences counting down from No.30
17.50 GMT – Red carpet: the big names begin to arrive
19.45 GMT – The Ceremony
A reminder of the 30 names in the running for tonight’s main award.
Neymar is convinced his compatriot Vinicius Junior will win the 2024 Ballon d’Or this evening.
Check out what the former Barcelona and PSG star had to say about the Real Madrid ace in the video below.
‘He’s surpassed all expectations’ – Neymar backs ‘idol’ Vinicius Junior for Ballon d’Or win
A nice montage of some big names to have both graced the Games and lifted arguably football’s biggest individual prize.
It’s not Ballon d’Or-related but worthy of note – The Red Devils have today sacked manager Erik ten Hag.
Full details via our story below.
TNT Sports and Eurosport will run a dedicated live blog throughout the ceremony on Monday, October 28.
The Chicago Red Stars forward was already a star in her home country but will go down in USWNT history following her second half strike for Emma Hayes’ side.
Swanson scored four goals throughout the tournament, with her achievements at the Games making her a front runner to become the first American to win the Ballon d’Or Feminin since Megan Rapinoe in 2019.
Watch as Swanson grabs winning goal for USA against Brazil in women’s football final
Graham Hansen’s Norway team-mate Ada Hegerberg has gone through hell and back to reach the top of the game again, having suffered an ACL injury in 2020, followed by a stress fracture.
But the winner of the inaugural Ballon d’Or Feminin in 2018 has won plenty more admirers for her fightback, and she is flying again now.
Ada Hegerberg.
Image credit: Getty Images
Sticking with Barcelona, Caroline Graham Hansen could be Bonmati’s greatest challenger for the Ballon d’Or award.
The Norway international led the Liga F charts last season, scoring 21 goals and setting up another 19, while she also went into the international break as the joint leader for this season on assists, with four.
Graham Hansen is an integral part of the Barca set-up and was named in the UEFA’s best XI for the Women’s Champions League last season.
Caroline Graham Hansen
Image credit: Getty Images
The Barcelona playmaker has once again had an outstanding year since picking up her first Ballon d’Or Feminin award in 2023.
‘Who else?’ – Bonmati fires Spain level against Japan
The 2023 winner Aitana Bonmati is among the favourites, while her Barcelona team-mates Caroline Graham Hansen and Alexia Putellas could feature.
The likes of Ada Hegerberg, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Olympic champion Mallory Swanson will also fancy their chances.
Bonmati awarded first Ballon d’Or Feminin
Gerardo Martino has claimed Lionel Messi is still the world’s best player, despite not being nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
The Argentine coach – currently at Inter Miami – is therefore tipping Vinicius Junior to win this year’s award, with the winner due to be announced at Monday’s ceremony in Paris.
The Real Madrid forward will battle it out with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Rodri for the prize.
Real Madrid are no strangers to trophies, given they have lifted a record 15 UEFA Champions Leagues, as well as 36 La Liga titles and a multitude of other trophies.
The list of star players who have helped Los Blancos become the force they are across the globe is a lengthy one, and it is no surprise that individual honours have followed.
No fewer than eight players have won the Ballon d’Or while at the Bernabeu.
Could Vinicius Junior or Jude Bellingham be No.9?
TNT Sports and Eurosport will run a dedicated live blog throughout the ceremony on Monday, October 28.
Since 2008 we’ve only seen four names lift the trophy with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo turning it into a two-way tussle for 10 years before Luka Modric ended their duopoly in 2018.
Messi leads the way with an incredible eight Ballon d’or triumphs overall, with Ronaldo sitting in second with five.
Check out our montage of all of the great names to have been crowned the best from Stanley Matthews in 1956 all the way through to last year’s winner, Messi.
It was Vinicius’ 24th goal in 39 games in the 2023/24 season, and it landed the Brazilian his second Champions League winners’ medal after Madrid’s 2022 success.
Last year was a glittering one for Jude Bellingham as he donned the famous white of Madrid for the first time.
He quickly became a fans’ favourite in the Spanish capital, playing in a far more advanced position to make the most of his goalscoring threat. He notched 23 goals in 42 games for his new side after a big-money move from Borussia Dortmund.
Alcaraz presents Bellingham with Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award
Fresh off a Premier League title and European Championship double, the Manchester City defensive midfielder is the Premier League’s strongest contender for the world’s biggest individual prize.
He was the lynchpin for City’s fourth league title in a row, and was the heartbeat of Spain’s midfield in their Euro 2024-winning campaign – winning the Player of the Tournament award – despite going off injured in the final against England.
The Bookies have Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior as the clear favourite to land the men’s trophy later with club teammate Jude Bellingham and Man City’s Rodri his closest rivals.
‘He’s going to win it!’ – Ancelotti backs Vinicius Jr for Ballon d’Or after Dortmund hat-trick
Liverpool and England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has hinted that he could be ready for a new challenge after admitting he would like to become the first full-back to ever win the Ballon d’Or.
The 26-year-old is in the final year of his contract at Liverpool and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid next summer.
“I just want that legacy of being probably the greatest right-back,” he said.
TNT Sports and Eurosport will run a dedicated live blog throughout the ceremony on Monday, October 28.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has backed one of his own players to be the next recipient of the prestigious Ballon d’Or award – midfielder Rodri.
Guardiola insists that his compatriot is simply “the best”, and believes that the former Atletico Madrid man can succeed Lionel Messi as the world’s best men’s player.
“Rodri. If I could decide, I would say that,” He told us in an exclusive chat recently. “I understand that there are other players that can win it. I think the other way is being nominated and being there is already nice.”
Yashin Trophy (for the best goalkeeper)
Diogo Costa (Portugal, Porto)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain)
Gregor Kobel (Switzerland, Borussia Dortmund)
Andriy Lunin (Ukraine, Real Madrid)
Mike Maignan (France, Milan)
Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia, Valencia)
Emiliano Martínez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
Unai Simón (Spain, Athletic Club)
Yann Sommer (Switzerland, Inter)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Kopa Trophy (for the best player under the age of 21 as of 31 July 2024)
Pau Cubarsí (Spain, Barcelona)
Alejandro Garnacho (Argentina, Manchester United)
Arda Güler (Türkiye, Real Madrid)
Karim Konaté (Ivory Coast, Salzburg)
Kobbie Mainoo (England, Manchester United)
João Neves (Portugal, Benfica / Paris Saint-Germain)
Savinho (Brazil, Girona / Manchester City)
Mathys Tel (France, Bayern München)
Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
Warren Zaïre-Emery (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
Men’s Coach of the Year Trophy (best coach of a men’s club or national team)
Xabi Alonso (Spain, Bayer Leverkusen)
Carlo Ancelotti (Italy, Real Madrid)
Luis de la Fuente (Spain, Spain)
Gian Piero Gasperini (Italy, Atalanta)
Pep Guardiola (Spain, Manchester City)
Lionel Scaloni (Argentina, Argentina)
Women’s Coach of the Year Trophy (best coach of a women’s club or national team)
Sonia Bompastor (France, Lyon / Chelsea)
Arthur Elias (Brazil, Corinthians / Brazil)
Jonatan Giráldez (Spain, Barcelona / Washington Spirit)
Emma Hayes (England, Chelsea / USA)
Filipa Patão (Portugal, Benfica)
Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands, England)
Men’s Club of the Year Trophy
Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Girona (Spain)
Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
Manchester City (England)
Real Madrid (Spain)
Women’s Club of the Year Trophy
Barcelona (Spain)
Chelsea (England)
Lyon (France)
NJ/NY Gotham (USA)
Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer in previous season)
Sócrates Award (humanitarian work)
Welcome to our live blog on the morning of the Ballon d’Or 2024 ceremony as we build up to the most prestigious individual awards in football with many of the biggest names in the sport set to be present.
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