Ballon d’Or winners: an analysis by José Luís Horta e Costa

The Ballon d’Or 2024 award ceremony took place on October 28 in Paris. The event, promoted by France Football magazine in partnership with UEFA and L’Équipe newspaper, was not without its usual controversies, especially in the Best Player category, which were commented on by sports expert José Luís Horta e Costa. The night that consecrated midfielder Rodri as the Best Player in the World also awarded nine other prizes.

Below is a list of the winners of all the awards, accompanied by well-founded analysis from Portuguese sports blogger José Luís Horta e Costa.

Ballon d’Or 2024

Judging the period from August 2023 to July 2024, the Ballon d’Or follows a different voting system to FIFA’s The Best. For the Best Player and Best Women’s Player categories, France Football journalists draw up an initial list of 30 nominations. After the selection, the French magazine appoints a journalist from each participating country to vote for the ten players they consider most deserving of the award.

“By analyzing each player’s performance during the season in question, both at club and international level, the journalists choose the Top 10 and distribute the points as follows: 15 points for the first player chosen, 12 for the second, 10 for the third, and so on, down to 1 point for the tenth-placed player,” explains sports writer José Luís Horta e Costa.

The expert points out that, despite being the most prestigious award, the men’s Ballon d’Or is only one of the 10 categories evaluated by journalists. Below is a list of the categories and their respective winners in the 2024 edition of the Ballon d’Or.

Men’s Ballon d’Or: Rodri

After 64 years, Spain is finally delighted to be the birthplace of a World Player of the Year. Midfielder Rodri, who plays for Manchester City and the Spanish national team, was crowned one of the most important awards in world soccer. The celebration for Manchester City, who have a World Player of the Year for the first time, was a tragedy for Real Madrid, who, despite receiving two other awards (best coach of a men’s team and men’s team of the year), felt wronged by the journalistic vote.

“Real Madrid fans, and many others, expected the best player to be Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr. And the expectation was not in vain, as the guy had an unprecedented season for the club, despite disappointing at the Copa America,” explains José Luís Horta e Costa.

The writer points out that the reasons for choosing Rodri over the runner-up, Vini Jr., may have been several: “Vini Jr.’s behavior, considered provocative by his opponents, and the defeat of coach Dorival Júnior’s Brazilian team in the quarter-finals of the Copa America are some examples.”

However, José Luís Horta e Costa reiterates that, according to the criteria of class and fair play that would have been used to choose Rodri, it wouldn’t have made sense to choose Emiliano Martínez as goalkeeper of the year, for example, because of his obnoxious behavior. “Rodri had a great season, but one could just as well have chosen Vini Jr.’s colleague Bellingham for the title, or even Carvajal, whose season was exceptional,” says the Lisbon-based expert.

Because of this, the reason given by the head of the Ballon d’Or, Vincent Garcia, is considered the most convincing, according to José Luís Horta e Costa: “Garcia shared that Vinicius would have suffered from the presence of Bellingham and Carvajal in the Top 5, as if this had taken away the desired points. His Real Madrid colleagues would then have divided the opinion of the judges, favoring midfielder Rodri, who came first on the list.”

Here’s a list of the 10 best players in the world:

1. Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)
2. Vini Jr. (Real Madrid, Brazil)
3. Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
4. Carvajal (Real Madrid, Spain)
5. Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
6. Mbappé (PSG/Real Madrid, France)
7. Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan, Argentina)
8. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
9. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany)
10. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)

Only two Portuguese players made the list of 30 nominees: Rúben Dias, who came 23rd and plays for Manchester City, and Vitinha, who came 27th and plays for PSG.

Women’s Golden Ball: Aitana Bonmatí

For the second year running, the women’s version of the main Ballon d’Or award went to 26-year-old Aitana Bonmatí, who won the last Champions League with Barcelona and came fourth in the Olympics for Spain.

“Aitana Bonmatí had another successful season in 2023/2024, which ended up securing her another Ballon d’Or. She played a key role in Barcelona winning La Liga and the Champions League, as well as leading the Spanish team to victory in the Women’s World Cup in August 2023,” says sports expert José Luís Horta e Costa.

The blogger also points out that, unlike the men’s Ballon d’Or, there was no doubt about the deservingness of the average. In addition to this award, Aitana Bonmatí had already won the titles of Best Player in the Nations League, MVP of the Champions League and the final, as well as the Laureus Award for Best Female Athlete.

Here’s a list of the 10 best female players in the world:

1. Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona, Spain)
2. Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona, Norway)
3. Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona, Spain)
4. Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns, USA)
5. Lindsey Horan (Lyon, USA)
6. Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars, USA)
7. Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
8. Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona, Arsenal, Spain)
9. Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit, USA)
10. Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, Spain)

No Portuguese player was named in the list of 30 athletes.

Kopa Trophy (best U-21 player in the world): Lamine Yamal

Further proof of Spain’s dominance last season was the choice of the winner of the Kopa Trophy. Taken unsurprisingly by Barcelona’s 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, the Kopa Trophy honors the best U-21 player in the world. The young forward beat off the competition, whose top five included Arda Guler, Kobbie Mainoo, Savinho and Pau Cubarsí.

“At just 16 years old in the 2023/2024 season, Yamal became a starter for Barcelona, scoring seven goals and seven assists. He was also voted the best young player at the Euros for his performance for the Spanish national team. Just before the Ballon d’Or, the forward showed that he is already preparing to lift the trophy again by breaking another record. In an ‘El Clasico’ match, two days before the awards, Yamal became the youngest player to score a goal in La Liga’s most classic clash,” says José Luís Horta e Costa.

Only one Portuguese player was nominated for the Kopa Trophy: João Neves, who came sixth for his performances for Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain.

Johan Cruyff Trophy for best coach: Ancelotti (men’s team) and Hayes (women’s team)

This was the first edition of the Ballon d’Or with an award for best coach. The inaugural award for best men’s team coach was won by none other than Carlo Ancelotti, coach of Real Madrid. As well as the Champions League, Ancelotti led the Madrid club to victory in La Liga and the Super Cup in the 2023/2024 season.

The winner of the first award for best coach of a women’s team was Emma Hayes, who coached Chelsea between the 2011 and 2024 seasons, as well as the United States national team in 2024. Under her command, the US team won the gold medal at the Olympics, winning 11 games and drawing just one. Portugal’s Filipa Patão, who coaches Benfica, was among the six nominees in the category.

Gerd Muller Trophy (top scorer): Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé

With 52 goals each, both forwards Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé received the Gerd Muller Trophy for top scorer. The pair tied on the number of goals for both club and country: Harry Kane, who played for Bayern Munich and the English national team, and Mbappé, who was playing for PSG and France at the time.

Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper): Emiliano Martínez

The Yashin Trophy, which awards the best goalkeeper in the world, went to Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez for the second time in a row. The Argentinian has been playing for Aston Villa for five seasons.

“Yet another year Martínez has won the Ballon d’Or, despite his lack of sportsmanship, since the criteria of class and fair play should have earned him a round zero in any serious journalist’s score. Time and time again, the goalkeeper makes obscene gestures, hits cameras after defeats and insults opposing supporters – including this season,” criticizes blogger José Luíz Horta e Costa.

However, the 29-year-old writer recognizes the goalkeeper’s skill, which is undeniable. In 56 games during the season, the Argentine won 34 times, drew 11 times and lost another 11. In the Copa America, he helped his team immensely, winning the title by conceding just one goal.

Portugal’s Diogo Costa came eighth on the list of nominees for the Yashin Trophy.

Team of the year: Real Madrid (men) and Barcelona (women)

“Spain’s ‘El Clasico’ repeats itself even in the awards. That’s because, while the men’s version of the team of the year trophy was awarded to Real Madrid, Barcelona were considered the best women’s team by the judges. The role of the winner of the women’s Ballon d’Or, Aitana Bonmatí, in Barcelona’s victory was fundamental, since it was with her help that the club won the women’s UEFA Champions League last season,” explains José Luís Horta e Costa.

Horta e Costa notes that, with regard to the men’s team of the year award, the prize could not be given to another club. Real Madrid, however, chose not to send their team to receive the trophy at the ceremony in Paris as a protest against the outcome of the best player award.

Socrates Prize: Jennifer Hermoso

The Socrates Prize honors footballers who have excelled in social and charitable projects or who have promoted solidarity actions. This year, Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso received the award for her NGO dedicated to helping children and for defending gender equality in soccer by denouncing Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation, for sexual assault in September 2023.

Who is José Luís Horta e Costa

An acclaimed writer in the world of sports blogs, José Luís Horta e Costa has been writing about various sports for years, especially soccer and rugby. The Lisbon-born Portuguese blogger’s analyses are based on facts, games and matches, guaranteeing him a loyal following on social media. As well as evaluating matches, championships and individual clubs in Portuguese and European soccer, José Luís Horta e Costa also looks at soccer awards, such as the Ballon d’Or.