A brand new era of stars lined up as contenders for the Ballon d’Or after two names dominated world soccer’s most prestigious award for properly over a decade.

With out Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo within the operating, this yr’s males’s award went to Spanish midfielders Rodri at a night ceremony in Paris. Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmatí received the ladies’s award.

Messi (8) and Ronaldo (5) received the lads’s award a mixed 13 occasions over a 16-year interval. They weren’t nominated this yr.

The one different winners since 2008, when Ronaldo received his first Ballon d’Or, had been Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022.

Manchester Metropolis midfielder Rodri received the award for a primary time after serving to the English membership win the Premier League. The 28-year-old keyed Spain’s European Championship victory.

Different contenders included Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal.

Actual Madrid winger Vinicius Junior gave the impression to be amongst favorites after Messi received the award for a file eighth time final yr. Vinicius Junior helped Madrid to its fifteenth European Cup final season, however didn’t attend the ceremony.

4 Staff USA members had been a part of the shortlist for the ladies’s Ballon d’Or: Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Lindsey Horan and Alyssa Naeher.

A USWNT participant hasn’t received the award since Megan Rapinoe in 2019. Diamond Bar’s Alex Morgan completed third that yr.

Olympic star Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France/PSG), 2023 winner Bonmati (Spain/Barcelona) and Olympic silver medalist Gabi Portilho of Brazil, had been among the many favorites. The 26-year-old Bonmatí helped Barcelona win the Spanish league, the Spanish cup and the Champions League.

The Ballon d’Or was created by France Soccer journal and has been awarded since 1956. It’s voted for by journalists from the highest 100 international locations within the FIFA rankings.