Controversy defines the Ballon d'Or ceremony as Manchester City's Rodri claims top honors, while Real Madrid boycotts the event. Barcelona shines in women's categories, and Emiliano Martinez defends his Yashin Trophy title.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri triumphed at the men's Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris, winning the esteemed award and outshining Real Madrid's nominees—Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal, and Jude Bellingham. This decision sparked controversy, leading Real Madrid to boycott the event, resulting in the men's club of the year award going uncollected and Carlo Ancelotti missing out on the men's coach of the year title.
Star forward Kylian Mbappe was also absent, missing out on sharing the Gerd Muller trophy with Harry Kane. However, Rodri remained unfazed by Madrid's stance. Despite being on crutches due to a season-ending knee injury, he graciously accepted the honor, thanking France Football, UEFA, and the voters who trusted him with the award. Rodri spoke warmly about his girlfriend Laura, marking their anniversary with a tribute, and extended gratitude to his family and Manchester City teammates, calling City 'the best club in the world.'
The women's Ballon d'Or was awarded to Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, marking her second consecutive victory. Barcelona celebrated with a top-three sweep, aided by Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo. Real Madrid, expressing their dissatisfaction before the event, issued a statement through AS claiming that if Vinicius was not selected, Dani Carvajal should have been recognized instead. The club declared that the Ballon d'Or 'does not respect Real Madrid' and chose not to attend.
Despite the controversy, Madrid's talent was still acknowledged: they concluded the evening with two awards and four players in the men's top six — Vinicius, Bellingham, Carvajal, and Mbappe, who secured the sixth position just behind Erling Haaland. Mbappe shared the Gerd Muller trophy with England's Harry Kane, who concluded last season with an impressive 52 goals. Kane expressed his gratitude to Bayern Munich for their support during his scoring spree and received the award from club legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Barcelona’s 16-year-old forward Yamine Lamal won the Kopa Trophy for the top male player under 21, setting a record as the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history. Barcelona also claimed the women’s club of the year title after defeating Lyon in the Women’s Champions League final. Chelsea’s Emma Hayes was honored as the women’s coach of the year, marking her seventh Women’s Super League title with Chelsea before taking charge of the U.S. women’s team and leading them to Olympic gold. She expressed pride in being the first female coach to earn this award, highlighting the teamwork that contributed to her achievement.
The Yashin Trophy for the best male goalkeeper was awarded to Emiliano Martinez for the second consecutive year. He played a crucial role in Argentina's victory in the Copa America and in Aston Villa's qualification for the Champions League. Despite the absence of Real Madrid's representatives, the Ballon d'Or ceremony highlighted exceptional talent from clubs across Europe, demonstrating the passion and skill that continue to elevate the sport globally.
