Manchester City’s Rodri Hernández has won the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or, edging out Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior by only 41 points in a vote that has sparked plenty of debate.
This makes Rodri the first Spaniard to win the prestigious award since Luis Suarez Miramontes in 1960, as he captured the attention of football fans and critics alike. In a highly competitive vote, Rodri scored a total of 1,170 points from 99 voters, narrowly beating Vinicius, who finished with 1,129 points.
A panel of 100 journalists, each representing one of the top footballing nations in the world, voted for their top 10 players.
However, Syria’s journalist did not participate, resulting in 99 ballots. Each juror ranked their top players, awarding 15 points to their first choice, followed by progressively fewer points for the remaining nine. This system produced a closely contested race that saw Rodri emerge as the top player in global football this year.
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Big surprises and notable snubs
Rodri was awarded the maximum 15 points by 49 journalists, including those from major footballing nations such as England, Germany, Portugal, and Italy.
Vinicius, who placed second, received the highest vote from 35 countries, including Spain, Brazil, and France. Despite his impressive season, Vinicius did not make it into the top 10 of journalists from Namibia, El Salvador, and Finland, a surprising omission for a player so close to the title.
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham finished third and even secured five top votes from countries like Georgia, Namibia, and El Salvador. His strong showing this season helped him jump 15 places from his previous ranking, reflecting his rising status in European football.
Madrid’s influence in the top rankings was evident, with teammates Dani Carvajal and Toni Kroos also placing in the top 10, solidifying Spain’s dominance on the international stage.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s star forward, came in fifth place, just ahead of Kylian Mbappe, who landed in sixth. Mbappe, now with Real Madrid, received only one first-place vote — from the journalist representing the Ivory Coast.
Another surprising single first-place vote went to Ademola Lookman, the Atalanta forward, who was the top pick for Nigeria.
Rodri is our 2024 Ballon d’Or!
Find out more about the 2024 voting details! ⤵️#ballondor pic.twitter.com/Jl8zFNhgll
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) November 9, 2024
Which players did received even a single vote in Ballon d’Or rankings?
Beyond the top five, several players made significant moves up the ranks. England’s Jude Bellingham saw a 15-place jump to reach third, while Lautaro Martinez, who secured seventh, rose 13 places from last year.
Meanwhile, England had three players in the top 15, with Bellingham joined by Phil Foden and Harry Kane.
Florian Wirtz and Ademola Lookman also stood out as top players from the Bundesliga and Serie A, each making an impact in the rankings with memorable performances this season.
Interestingly, some notable names from the 30-player shortlist failed to earn even a single vote.
Artem Dovbik, who led the scoring charts in La Liga, and Mats Hummels, who reached the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund, both missed out on points, showing the intense competition among the world’s best players this year.
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