Manchester City's Rodri took home the prestigious Ballon d'Or award for 2024, edging out Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham. However, tensions were high as Real Madrid decided to boycott the event after learning that Vinicius Jr would not receive the award. Despite this, Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal showed true sportsmanship by being the first to congratulate Rodri on his win, despite being unable to attend due to a season-ending injury.
Rodri Triumphant: City Star Claims Prestigious Ballon d'Or
Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernandez has been crowned the 2024 winner of the coveted Ballon d'Or award. Rodri's exceptional season, marred only by a season-ending injury to Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal, has earned him the highest individual honor in world football.
Rodri's Rise to Stardom
Rodri joined Manchester City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 and has quickly established himself as a vital cog in Pep Guardiola's midfield. Known for his exceptional passing range and ball-winning abilities, Rodri has played a key role in City's impressive domestic dominance.
Controversy Surrounding Real Madrid's Boycott
Real Madrid's decision to boycott the Ballon d'Or ceremony, despite Vinicius Jr being shortlisted, cast a shadow over the event. The club cited concerns about the voting process and a perceived bias against their players. However, Carvajal's gracious gesture of congratulating Rodri on his win showed that sportsmanship and respect still prevailed.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Who was the runner-up in the 2024 Ballon d'Or?
2. Why did Real Madrid boycott the event?
3. Who won the Ballon d'Or in the previous year?
4. Is Rodri the first Spanish player to win the Ballon d'Or?
5. What factors contributed to Rodri's victory?
Conclusion
Rodri's Ballon d'Or triumph is a testament to his exceptional talent and the transformative impact he has had on Manchester City. While the controversy surrounding Real Madrid's boycott cast a pall over the event, the true sportsmanship displayed by Dani Carvajal served as a reminder of the unity that can exist even amidst competition.
The first T20I between India and South Africa saw a tense moment as Suryakumar Yadav jumped in to defend teammate Sanju Samson during a verbal exchange with South African all-rounder Marco Jansen. Known for his calm demeanor, Suryakumar's outburst came after Jansen had something to say to Samson for damaging the pitch while fielding. The on-field umpire and another South African player also had to intervene to prevent the situation from escalating.
Team India dominated in their first T20I match against South Africa, winning by a whopping 61 runs in Durban. In the Pro Kabaddi League, table-toppers Puneri Paltan will be playing on Saturday, November 9. Sanju Samson made history by becoming the fourth player to score consecutive hundreds in men's T20Is. ACC has also unveiled the schedule for the U19 Men's Asia Cup 2024, with India and Pakistan placed in Group A. Dhruv Jurel continued his impressive form by scoring consecutive fifties in the second unofficial Test against Australia A.
As India's fast bowlers prepare for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, they will have to step up in the absence of experienced pacer Mohammad Shami. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will lead the pack, while the toss-up will be among the relatively inexperienced Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Harshit Rana. Former selector Devan Gandhi believes that Rana should have been a part of the India A team to familiarize himself with the conditions. Meanwhile, former bowling coach Paras Mhambrey believes that backing Siraj is crucial for India's success in Australia. Mhambrey also praises Krishna's ability to generate bounce and has faith in him to perform against the Aussies.
In a strategic move to target Indian viewership, the 2028 LA Olympics is considering moving the cricket event to New York, which is closer to the Indian time zone compared to Los Angeles. This plan was announced by Casey Wasserman, chairman of the 2028 LA Games organizing committee, who emphasized the importance of catering to South Asian audiences for better broadcast deals. Talks are in place to host the matches at the Marine Park in Brooklyn, and the move could also alleviate concerns around the total number of athletes and support staff at the Games.
The tension between India and South Africa was palpable during the national anthem before the start of the first T20I. The players were caught off guard when the anthem stopped twice, leaving them confused. Eventually, India's record-breaking performance on the field overshadowed the mishap, with Sanju Samson shining with his second consecutive T20I century. Captain Suryakumar praised Samson and the team's fearless approach for their seventh consecutive win under his leadership in the shortest format.
The Melbourne Renegades Women's team is looking to turn things around after a disappointing season last year, but they will have a tough challenge as they face the Perth Scorchers Women who have had a strong start this year. With the average first innings score at the Junction Oval in Melbourne being 148, the captain who wins the toss may opt to bat first and set a competitive total. Key players to watch out for in this thrilling match include Hayley Matthews, Courtney Webb, and Deandra Dottin for the Renegades, and captain Beth Mooney for the Scorchers. Don't miss out on this exciting matchup in the Women's Big Bash League 2024.
After a heated soccer match between Dutch team Ajax and Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv, Dutch authorities reported that a large group of young people targeted Israeli fans in Amsterdam. This attack, fueled by calls on social media to target Jewish people, was condemned as antisemitic by authorities in Amsterdam, Israel, and throughout Europe. Despite a ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the stadium, tensions were high and violence escalated after the game, with several injured and dozens arrested. Dutch officials have promised to prosecute those responsible for the assault.
With the highly-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia just around the corner, the focus is on India's batting lineup. According to Australian great Mark Taylor, India's transition from experienced players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane to younger talents like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal has not been smooth, primarily due to the indifferent form of their star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Taylor points out that in the past 12-18 months, Sharma and Kohli have not been making the bulk of the runs, while younger players like Jaiswal and Gill have been consistently outscoring them.
Rising Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has joined a training group led by triple Olympic champion Jan Zelezny in the Czech Republic this winter. The 26-year-old, who won gold in Tokyo 2021 and silver in Paris, sought out Zelezny as his coach for the upcoming training season. With the guidance of the Czech legend, Chopra hopes to continue dominating the world stage in javelin throw events.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced their willingness to rearrange the schedule and venues of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to accommodate India's refusal to travel to Pakistan. This would be the second time Pakistan is hosting a multi-nation tournament on a hybrid model, with India playing all their matches in the UAE. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is waiting for the PCB's decision and is expected to announce the schedule for the tournament next week.