Arsenal’s growing reputation on the world stage was underlined at tonight’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, with four of Mikel Arteta’s players – Declan Rice, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard – finishing within seven places of each other in the rankings.

Club captain Odegaard led the quartet to finish 19th – further recognition of his impressive performances for the Gunners in recent seasons – while Bukayo Saka was two places behind in 21st. The England international scored important goals for club and country in 2024 when he finally got to test himself in the Champions League.

Not far behind were William Saliba (24th) and Declan Rice (26th), who were crucial to Arsenal’s title challenge last season. Each man also impressed at last summer’s European Championships, with semi-finalists France and finalists England respectively.

Meanwhile, Spanish international Mariona Caldentey, who joined Arsenal Women from Barcelona this summer, finished eighth in the Ballon d’Or Feminin rankings.

The glitzy ceremony in Paris was overshadowed before it even started when it was leaked that Real Madrid had refused to send representatives after learning their striker Vinicius Jr. had not won the main prize. That decision proved all the more remarkable as Madrid won the Men’s Team of the Year and Carlo Ancelotti was crowned Men’s Coach of the Year.

As for the other awards, apart from Lamine Yamal winning the Kopa Trophy for Best Young Player, it felt like a who’s who of ex-Arsenal foes on the podium – Emi Martinez (Goalkeeper of the Year), Emma Hayes ( Women’s Coach of the Year ) and Harry Kane (best goalscorer) scored before Rodri himself received the Ballon d’Or. Aitana Bonmati took the women’s equivalent.

Meh.