Ballon d'Or: Rodri triumphs, Real boycotts

Rodri won the European Championship with Spain in the summer and was voted the tournament's best player. With City, the 28-year-old won the English championship for the fourth time in a row. The Ballon d'Or féminin, awarded for the fifth time, went to the Spaniard Aitana Bonmati from FC Barcelona, just like a year ago.

Rodri, who is currently out with a cruciate ligament rupture, won the vote, which was held jointly for the first time by France Football and the European Football Union UEFA, ahead of Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) and his teammates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal. Since Vinícius Júnior, who was considered the favorite, and Bellingham, came away empty-handed at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Real's delegation canceled the trip to Paris at short notice.

boycott of Real Madrid "It is clear that Real Madrid is not respected at the Ballon d'Or. And Real Madrid will not go anywhere where it is not respected," said a statement from the Spanish record champions. The Madrilenians triumphed in the Champions League last season and also won the league title. Real was named men's team of the year in absentia and also had coach of the year in Carlo Ancelotti.

George Weah (left) hands the trophy to Rodri. © ANSA / MOHAMMED BADRA

The Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21 went to Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. The 17-year-old won the European Championship with Spain in the summer. The best goalkeeper was named the Argentinian Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa.

In the women's football competition, Aitana Bonmati beat her Barcelona teammates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo. The trio won the championship, Champions League and Spanish Cup together. Barcelona also naturally had the women's team of the year.

The Ballon d'Or has been awarded since 1956 and was long the prize for the best European player. From 2010 to 2015, the Ballon d'Or was awarded to the world's best footballer and player through a cooperation between the French media group Groupe Amaury and the world association FIFA. The cooperation with the European Football Union has been in place since this year.

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Ballon d'Or: Rodri triumphs, Real boycotts

The winner of the Ballon d'Or is Rodri. The Manchester City midfielder received the trophy for the first time at the gala in Paris on Monday evening. Real Madrid, meanwhile, caused a scandal.

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