BALLON D'OR
Aitana Bonmati Wins Ballon d’Or Féminin
For the second consecutive year, Aitana Bonmati has claimed the Ballon d’Or Féminin, following a sensational season in which she helped Barcelona retain both the LaLiga F and Champions League titles.
Bonmati joins her club and international teammate, Alexia Putellas, in winning back-to-back Ballon d’Or awards, further solidifying her place as one of the best players in the world.
A remarkable achievement for the Barcelona and Spain midfielder!
Norway striker Erling Haaland may be one of the best players in the world, but he won’t be in the room when the Ballon d’Or is awarded in Paris on Monday, preferring instead a trip to Sweden where his friend Erik Botheim can win the league with Malmo FF.
The 24-year-old Manchester City striker was spotted in Malmo early on Monday evening ahead of their game against bitter rivals IFK Gothenburg, where a victory would give them their second straight Allsvenskan title and fourth in five years.
Haaland and Botheim became friends while playing for Norway’s junior national team, and they also featured in a rap video together with Erik Sandberg that has been viewed more than 12 million times on YouTube.
Haaland scored 27 goals in 31 matches as City retained their Premier League title last season. At the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony he finished as runner-up to Argentina’s Lionel Messi.
Botheim, also a striker, has been named in the starting line-up for Malmo on Monday, which kicks off at 1910 CET (1810 GMT), 50 minutes before the Ballon d’Or gala is set to get underway.
-Reuters
In another slightly awkward moment, Carlo Ancelotti has been named Men’s Coach of the Year for leading Real Madrid to yet another Champions League title.
However, with Real Madrid boycotting the ceremony, Ancelotti is absent, and there’s no acceptance speech to accompany the announcement.
Despite the absence, Ancelotti’s remarkable achievements this season speak for themselves, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest managers in soccer history.
Rodri has been crowned the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner after an extraordinary year in which he helped Manchester City secure the Premier League title and played a pivotal role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph.
The trophy was presented to him by former Liberia president and the only African to have won the award, George Weah.
Despite being on crutches due to a recent ACL injury, Rodri was helped on stage by Didier Drogba to receive the prestigious award. The Manchester City midfielder looked visibly emotional as he lifted the Ballon d’Or trophy, capping off an unforgettable year in his career.
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