Rodri and Bonmati honored with Ballon d’Or – Real Madrid offended

The Spaniard Rodri was awarded the Ballon d’Or as the best footballer in the world on Monday in Paris. Real Madrid stayed away from the awards ceremony out of frustration: there were three Real Madrid players in the final four of the election conducted by journalists. Aitana Bonmati won the women’s event for the second time in a row.

The 28-year-old received the coveted award at the gala. Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal from Real Madrid landed behind them, among others. Apparently it had already been leaked that no Real professional would be the winner – so the Spanish football record champions decided not to travel to France.

However, in an initial reaction, the organizers of the Ballon d’Or denied that the winners had already been informed. “Neither players nor clubs know who won the Ballon d’Or”it read there.

Aitana Bonmati honored among women

In the women’s category, Aitana Bonmati won for the second time in a row. She won the Champions League with FC Barcelona and was also champion and cup winner in Spain.

Real Madrid “Team of the Year”, also honored coach Ancelotti

The absence of the Madrid group became apparent in the evening. When Real were named the best team, a video clip had to suffice. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti received the award for best coach – but unlike award winner Emma Hayes, he did not send a greeting message via video.

In addition, Kylian Mbappé was also awarded the “Gerd Müller Trophy” together with Harry Kane as the best goalscorer. While Kane made a longer appearance on stage at the awards ceremony, Mbappe only appeared in the compilation of the two goalscorers’ 52 goals this season.

“Diva” Real cancels flight and cancels broadcast

Real had canceled its special flight scheduled for 3 p.m. – 50 people were supposed to travel to Paris. The special program scheduled for five hours on the in-house TV channel was also canceled at short notice. “It is clear that the Ballon d’Or does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid will not go anywhere where it is not respected,” it says in a statement available to the AFP news agency: “If the award criteria do not name Vinicius as the winner, the same criteria (Dani, d. Red) should name Carvajal as the winner.”

Young star Lamine Yamal from FC Barcelona received the award for best young player – he triumphed with Spain alongside Rodri at the European Championships in Germany in the summer.

Remembering Beckenbauer

Previously, the assembled sports celebrities, together with widow Heidi Beckenbauer and children Joel and Francesca, commemorated the German icon who died in January. Beckenbauer is one “unique man with a big, big heart” been, said Heidi Beckenbauer. The song “Nobody can separate good friends”, sung by the former world champion in 1966, was heard in the large hall. Old photos and videos were shown before the focus returned to the present of football.

German players knocked off

The best German was Toni Kroos, who retired in the summer, in ninth place. Bayer Leverkusen’s young star Wirtz (21) ended up in 12th place, Real Madrid’s defense chief Rüdiger (31) in 22nd place of the 30 finalists. Among the female soccer players, 25-year-old Gwinn came 19th, Schüller (26/FC Bayern) 24th, and Nüsken (23/Chelsea FC) came 25th.

The placements of the players outside the top ten were announced by the organizers before the actual gala in the evening (8:45 p.m.) in Paris at X.