October 29, (THEWILL) – The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony at the Châtelet Theatre in Paris marked significant moments in football recognition, with multiple honours distributed across the sport’s leading figures. Real Madrid clinched the men’s club award, though the Spanish giants opted to abstain from attending the ceremony following discussions regarding player selection criteria.
Barcelona’s women’s team received recognition as club of the year, following their remarkable achievement of completing their domestic league campaign with 29 victories and a single draw. Their success extended beyond national borders, with victories in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Copa de la Reina, and Supercopa de Espana Feminina.
Spanish football continued its strong presence throughout the evening, with Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal receiving the Kopa Trophy. The 17-year-old forward’s contributions to Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, including one goal and four assists, substantiated his selection for this prestigious youth award.
The ceremony witnessed joint winners for the Gerd Muller Trophy, with Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe sharing the honour after both recorded 52 goals in the 2023/2024 season. Additionally, Aston Villa’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez secured the Yashin Trophy, recognising his instrumental role in Argentina’s 2024 Copa America triumph and Villa’s qualification for UEFA Champions League competition.
Spain international, Jenni Hermoso, received the Socrates Award, adding to the evening’s distribution of honours across various categories of football excellence. The ceremony demonstrated the sport’s global reach, with winners representing multiple nationalities and clubs across European and international football.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
