Spanish midfielders Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí won the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or award on Monday as the world’s best soccer players, while Real Madrid snubbed the star-studded ceremony in Paris in apparent protest.
The 28-year-old Rodri won the prestigious award for the first time after helping Manchester City win the Premier League and being a key player in Spain’s European Championship triumph.
He succeeded eight-time winner Lionel Messi of Argentina and beat Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior into second place, a result which greatly displeased the Spanish club. Madrid and its players stayed away from the ceremony, then vented their feelings on social media.
Rodri showed his emotion when his name was read out by former winner George Weah, putting his hands over his face.
“Incredible night for me,” said Rodri, who is out for the season after injuring his ACL last month and arrived on crutches to the ceremony. “One of my key things is I always try to improve every game.”
Known as a hard-working and unselfish player despite his abilities, Rodri was quick to deflect praise onto others.
Spain effectively annexed the 68th Ballon d’Or awards ceremony on Monday night garnering a clutch of the main prizes as well as providing the controversy in the run-up to the gala at the Theatre de Chatelet in central Paris.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri and the Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bonmati provided the panache with the men’s and women’s crowns respectively for their performances with their clubs and the Spain national team.
Spanish champions Real Madrid injected the petulance. Executives of the outfit announced during Monday afternoon that their players and coaches would snub the event after learning that their star players Vinicius Junior and Dani Carvajal had not been anointed for the top men’s prize.
Spanish midfielders Rodri and Aitana Bonmati won the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or award on Monday as the world’s best soccer players, while Real Madrid snubbed the star-studded ceremony in Paris in apparent protest.
The 28-year-old Rodri won the prestigious award for the first time after helping Manchester City win the Premier League and being a key player in Spain’s European Championship triumph.
In a historic moment for Spanish football, Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí were awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or titles at the annual ceremony held in Paris. Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder, received the men’s award, while Bonmatí, a key player for FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team, took home the women’s accolade.
The ceremony was marked by a notable absence as Real Madrid chose to boycott the event, reportedly in protest of the awards process. Despite this, the achievements of Rodri and Bonmatí were celebrated, highlighting their contributions to their respective teams and their roles in Spain’s recent successes on the international stage.
Rodri’s victory comes after a stellar season that saw him play a crucial role in Manchester City’s treble-winning campaign, while Bonmatí’s impact was instrumental in Spain’s triumph at the Women’s World Cup. Their wins reflect a growing recognition of Spanish talent in global football.
SOURCE:-
https://apnews.com/article/ballon-dor-rodri-vinicius-bonmati-a0693556e3bcced352d2521adee8c51d
https://sports.yahoo.com/spaniards-rodri-bonmat-win-ballon-163721233.html