Rodrigo Hernandez aka Rodri Wins Ballon D'Or Award: Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez has won football's biggest award. Fans call him Rodri. He won the Men's Ballon d'Or 2024 award. But the most interesting thing is that he won this big award by defeating the Real Madrid duo of Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham. On the other hand, Barcelona women's footballer Etana Bonamati won the Women's Ballon d'Or award for the second consecutive time. Bonamati played a key role in Barcelona's Liga F and Champions League double.
Won fourth consecutive Premier League title
Rodri has been performing strongly for some time now. The year 2023-24 has been the best year of his career. He then won his fourth consecutive Premier League title and lifted the Euro 2024 trophy for Spain. He became the biggest winner for Spain in Euro Cup 2024. He sat out almost half the time in the final. However, he was awarded the best player award in the tournament held in Germany. Last year he played a total of 74 matches for the country and club without losing.
Family taught me to take the right steps
“I have a lot of things to thank people for,” Rodri said after winning the Ballon d'Or. First of all I would like to thank France Football and UEFA. I also thank those who voted for me and believed in me. Today is a very special day for me, my family and my country. Thanks to my girlfriend Laura. My family taught me the right steps to take and made me the person I am today. This helped me become like this.
Third footballer from Spain to win this award
28-year-old Rodri is the third Spanish footballer to win the Ballon d'Or award. Before him, Alfredo Di Stefano (Sunday 1957 and 1959) and Luis Suárez (Sunday 1960) had won this major award for Spain. This is the first time in 21 years that neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo has been nominated for the prestigious award.