rewrite this title Ballon d’Or: Rodri and Bonmati winners as Real Madrid boycott ceremony

“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.

“I just want to say thank you again to the people who recognize my value in the game,” he said. “When I was a kid I never thought of winning the Ballon d’Or, but in the last years I’ve been playing the highest level.”

“He is a player completely without ego, whose performance level over a very long period of time has been exceptional,” Man City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain said. “The consistency he has shown is the result of hard work and dedication.”

This isn’t going to go away is it? Real Madrid calling something “politics” when they opted to not turn up at all…honestly, it’s such a cry-baby response from one of the world’s most privileged clubs.

They’ll doubtless frame it as focusing on the job at hand but they certainly haven’t missed out on turning up when they’ve been winning the biggest prizes.

No pre-recorded messages or any kind of acknowledgement tonight and they won or shared in the manager award, club award and Gerd Muller trophy.

For his part, Vinicius’ tweet reads: “I’ll do it ten times if I have to. They’re not ready.”

What a night for these two. Two Spain midfielders, two absolutely dominant forces in their game.

Aitana Bonmati, a second triumph for her in the Ballon d’Or.

Rodri, a first victory for him in the award – and for a defensive midfielder.

Although Rodri became just the second Spanish men’s player to lift the Ballon d’Or, the country’s premier club was barely anywhere to be seen. Despite more than one award going to the club or individuals within, nobody representing Real Madrid appeared in Paris as a dismal few days for the European champions got worse. At Manchester City, that knowledge added to the satisfaction of a worthy first ever club winner. The relationship between the clubs, especially at that media level, is poor.

It all illustrates the increasing intrigue around an award that is supposed to be so singular, in rewarding football’s dominant individual player in a calendar year. And then some.

France Football had nevertheless made a point of telling media that the Ballon d’Or decision absolutely wouldn’t leak, only for Vinicius Junior’s camp to get wind on Sunday evening that he wouldn’t be winning the award. Connections in the Spanish football federation were stating that Rodri had won it. The player himself was said to be extremely confident, and talking about it to teammates.

It was a shock to Madrid, since they had been so confident their odds-on favourite was going to win it that they were preparing to send a party of 50 to the ceremony in Paris, with a five-hour broadcast planned for their official television station. Club president Florentino Perez immediately scrapped all of that on finding out.

Miguel Delaney with the story of tonight’s Ballon d’Or – and why Rodri was a worthy winner

Aitana Bonmati has won the Ballon d’Or Feminin award for the second year running, while Rodri pipped Vinicius Junior to the men’s Ballon d’Or award in a surprising outcome at the 2024 edition of the ceremony.

Rodri explains a bit about the development of his game and says he’ll celebrate tonight with those who have supported him in the bad moments.

He also adds he’s progressing well with his injury.

Vinicius (second) and Bellingham (third) are confirmed as the podium finishers.

Rodri is helped up to take his trophy and then Drogba has to help him over to the microphone.

“Incredible night for me, I’ve got so many people thank,” he starts – and reveals it’s the eighth anniversary for he and his partner. Rodri’s family are in attendance and he thanks them for their support.

Manchester City, Uefa, Spain and France Football – they all get a mention.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner is…

Plenty of shouts of “Vini” in the background, but it’s the Manchester City midfielder who heads up on stage…on crutches of course!

Carvajal, Rodri, Vinicius, Bellingham. Where’s your prediction? We’re about to find out…

It’s George Weah to present the award – the only African winner of the Ballon d’Or to date.

The Liberian legend, president of his nation from 2018 to 2024, will be reading out the name of the winner.