Rodri Wins the Golden Ball, Saving Face for the 90sGeneration in the Post-Messi-Ronaldo Era
The 2024Ballon d’Or ceremony took place in Paris, France on October 29th, with awards being presented to the best players and coaches in the world.The most anticipated award, the coveted Golden Ball, was awarded to Spanish midfielder Rodri, playing for Manchester City. This marks the first time a player born in the1990s has won the prestigious award.
Prior to the ceremony, the two frontrunners for the award were Rodri and Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid. A win for Rodri would break the streak of noGolden Ball winners born in the 90s, while a win for Vinicius would make him the first player born in the 2000s to win the award, creating the awkward situation of a 00s playerwinning before a 90s player.
Rodri’s victory was a testament to his consistent excellence throughout the 2023-2024 season. He played a crucial role in Manchester City’s historic fourth consecutive Premier League title, making 50 appearances, scoring 9 goals, and providing 14 assists. His contributions were not limited to club level, as he also helped Spain win the European Championship, being named the tournament’s best player.
While Real Madrid celebrated their success in the Champions League and La Liga, they were ultimately disappointed with the Golden Ball results. AlthoughVinicius finished second, and other Real Madrid players like Bellingham and Carvajal placed highly, the team’s hopes of a grand slam were dashed. The absence of Real Madrid players and coaches at the ceremony further highlighted their disappointment.
Manchester United, on the other hand, faced a different kind of disappointment.After failing to win a league title for over a decade, they watched their city rivals Manchester City dominate the Premier League for the sixth time in seven years. The pressure on manager Erik ten Hag ultimately led to his dismissal on October 28th, just a day before the Golden Ball ceremony. However, thenews of his departure was quickly overshadowed by Rodri’s victory.
The 2024 Golden Ball marks a significant shift in the landscape of football awards. The era of Messi and Ronaldo’s dominance is officially over, and the award is now open to a wider range of players. This is areturn to the historical norm of the Golden Ball, where multiple players compete for the top spot. The future of the award is exciting, with a new generation of talented players ready to make their mark on the world stage.
References:
- 南方周末. (2024, October 29). 后梅罗时代的金球奖，罗德里保住了90后的颜面. Retrieved from [link to the original article]
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