Manchester City midfielder Rodri won the men’s Ballon d’Or and Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bonmati picked up the women’s award as a “disrespectful” Real Madrid boycotted the prestigious ceremony in Paris despite was named Men’s Club of the Year.

Rodri beat Real Madrid trio Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal and Jude Bellingham for top honors, and that verdict from the 100-strong group of voters prompted the Spanish giants’ delegation to stay at home.

Responding to the announcement, Vinicius wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “I’ll do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready yet.”

Rodri, who suffered a cruciate ligament injury against Arsenal in September, enjoyed the outstanding season of his 2023/24 career, winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title and lifting the 2024 Euro Cup with Spain.

The 28-year-old won the player of the tournament award in Germany last summer despite being substituted at half-time in the final against England.

After arriving on crutches, he was helped onto the stage as he was out for the rest of the season.

Remarkably, Rodri also went 74 games – and 475 days – without defeat for his club and country last year. That streak ended in the FA Cup final against Manchester United last May.

The last time Rodri lost a Premier League game was a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham in February 2023, making him the first defensive midfielder to receive the award since 1956 and the first Spaniard to do so this since Luis Suárez managed Barcelona in 1960.

In Spanish, Rodri said: “I have so many things to thank people for. First of all, to France Football and UEFA for giving me this award. I would like to thank those who voted for me and gave me their trust.” Today is a very special day for me and my family, my country.

“I would like to thank the most important person in the world to me, my friend Laura. Today is our anniversary and without her everything wouldn’t have been the same. Thanks.”

“Of course my family too. The values ​​they taught me and everything they represent in me, they taught me the right steps and helped me become the man I am.”

“I don’t want to forget my teammates, I understand it’s a group game. Manchester City is so special, I know I couldn’t do it without you. For me it is the best club in the world, and thanks to them it is much easier.

“The national team and Luis (coach de la Fuente), who trusted me for so long, I have to mention my teammates with whom we won the European Championship. That doesn’t just apply to me, but to Spanish football.”

The previous Premier League player to win this award was Cristiano Ronaldo, who was playing for Manchester United in 2008 when he was crowned winner.

Karim Benzema’s victory in 2022 – then a Real Madrid player – came after Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had won all but one of the previous 13 titles together. Messi won the award for the eighth time last year after inspiring Argentina to heroics at the World Cup in Qatar.

Barcelona star Bonmati won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second year in a row.

The 26-year-old Barcelona playmaker was the clear favorite for the award after winning both La Liga F and the Women’s Champions League, where Barcelona won the trophy for the third time in four years last season had played the main role.

Lionesses Lucy Bronze, Lauren James and Lauren Hemp were all on the shortlist, with James placing 13th, the highest of them.

Bonmati’s double success follows his clubmate Alexia Putellas winning the award two years in a row. The 26-year-old has won the World Cup and the Champions League twice in the past 18 months.

Barcelona secured the top three places cleanly, completed by Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo.

In the meantime, real Madrid Boss Carlo Ancelotti won the Johan Cruyff Trophy as men’s coach of the year as a former coach Chelsea trainer Emma Hayes won the women’s version after leading the U.S. to Olympic gold over the summer.

Real was named men’s club of the year Kylian Mbappe also missed the chance to accept the Gerd Müller Trophy, with which he had won together Harry Kane as the Real Madrid delegation stayed at home.

In a statement to Spanish newspaper AS, the club said: “If the award criteria do not show Vinicius as the winner, then the same criteria should point to (Dani) Carvajal as the winner.”

“As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or does not respect Real Madrid. Real Madrid doesn’t go where it’s not respected.”

Mbappe and Kane shared the Gerd Müller Trophy after both players finished last season with 52 goals, but only Kane was on hand to collect the award.

“Many thanks to my club Bayern Munich, to all my staff and teammates who helped me score all the goals I scored,” said the England captain. “It is an honor to accept this award from a club legend (Karl-Heinz Rummenigge), thank you very much.”

It was no big surprise when the Kopa trophy, awarded to the best male player under the age of 21, was presented Barcelonais the teenage star Yamine Lamal.

The striker became the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history when he scored in Spain’s 2-1 semi-final win over France before lifting the trophy four days before his 17th birthday.

Barcelona won the Women’s Club of the Year award after beating Lyon in the Women’s Champions League final last season to win their third European title in four years.

Martinez wins the Yashin Trophy again

Elsewhere, Emily Martinez retained the Yashin Trophy as the best goalkeeper in the world in 2024.

The Aston Villa And Argentina Goalkeeper was honored for the second year in a row with the Best Goalkeeper award, which is chosen by former Ballon d’Or winners.

Martinez played an important role as his country won the Copa America last season. He kept clean sheets in five of the six games, including the final when Colombia were defeated 1-0.

The 32-year-old also kept 15 clean sheets in all competitions for Villa as his side qualified for the Champions League.

Unai Simon came second after winning the European Championship with Spain Andriy Lunin of Real Madrid in third place for his performances as a replacement for Thibaut Courtois.