Ballon d'Or Stun: Rodri Hailed as Historic Winner Amid Real Madrid Protest

Manchester City midfielder Rodri made history as the first Premier League player to be crowned Ballon d'Or winner since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, sparking a major controversy after the prize was announced on Monday. Rodri, 28, took home the prestigious award over previously favored Vinicius Junior, who led Real Madrid to a La Liga and Champions League double last season, while sources told ESPN that Vinicius was actually the intended winner.

The issuance of the award did not go unnoticed by Real Madrid, who boycotted the ceremony citing the voting process as "unfair" and "disrespectful." Coach Carlo Ancelotti and several players from the team, including Dani Carvajal and Jude Bellingham, drew the line, failing to attend the ceremony organized by France Football in collaboration with UEFA. Despite this valid ire, Rodri was lauded by his manager, Pep Guardiola, who deemed him "the best" midfielder in his position.

As a crucial element for City's fourth straight Premier League title win and a key contributor to Spain's triumphant Euro 2024 campaign, it's no surprise Rodri's impressive performance and divergent praise swayed the jury. Yet, his controversy-laden victory illuminates the challenging line between competition fairness and conflicting narratives in the football universe, which heavily echoes reactions surrounding the ceremony's tone.

The past winners' list had never been so intensely debated with regards to who truly deserves any particular year's honor until Rodri stepped into this rivalry tangle. At any rate, Aitana Bonmati had secured a satisfying win of the women's Ballon d'Or Feminin title, solidifying her spot at the top for the second year in a row. Ellen White skipped no major honorable mentions with none being mentioned in this coverage, coach Emma Hayes went on to triumph as coach of the year, adding a celebratory momentum as she topped the acclaim list.

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