Aitana Bonmatí is consecrated with the Ballon d'Or and Messi adds the eighth trophy in his twilight
There was no surprise or tension because Aitana Bonmatí already arrived at the Ballon d'Or gala as the winner. Nobody had any doubts that the player from FC Barcelona and the Spanish National Team was going to be chosen for her merits, her achievements and, above all, her football.. Talented, competitive, different, the midfielder is the second Spaniard to achieve the highest individual recognition for a footballer. Nor was the choice of Leo Messi surprising, who won his eighth trophy at the twilight of his career.
“I'm very proud,” Aitana said so nervous that she forgot to pick up the trophy.. He had not slept for several days, as he admitted, thinking about not forgetting anything or anyone in his thanks.. “It has been an exceptional year on a personal level, but football is a collective sport, so I extend this award to all my teammates, the technical staff and the club's workers,” she began.. Later, personally, he took refuge in Catalan. “I thank the clubs in which I grew up, Ribes, Cubellas and FC Barcelona, my club, represented here by president Joan Laporta. Thank you for betting on us when no one believed. Who was going to tell me when I was a little girl that I was going to play at Camp Nou?. We are a world-renowned club,” the midfielder stressed.
In the stalls sat his parents, Vicent Conca and Rosa Bonmatí, for whom he also had a message: “You fought to change the order of surnames in Spain. “I carry struggle and resilience in my blood and I owe it to you,” he admitted before asking for unity in the fight for a “peaceful and equal world.”
Guardiola's praise
Calmer, escorted by Novak Djokovic, and without referring to the controversy that shook the Federation since August, she spoke only about football. “Being here at the biggest football gala is a dream for me. I am lucky to be able to play for a great club, in the national team, where I have the best players and the best staff, who make me better.. We have won three Champions League finals in a row and that says a lot about the mentality we have and that we want to maintain.”
The Ballon d'Or also highlighted the “unique talent” of Spanish football, which has led to the trophy traveling to Barcelona for the third consecutive year.. “It is true that in recent years we have highlighted the clubs, but we are a country that lives football a lot and we work every day to be the best,” said the player, who won the votes of the 60 delegates to the Australian of the Chelsea Sam Ker and her partner Salma Paralluelo.
This young woman from San Pere de Ribas has not stopped growing since she received the first setback of her career in August 2018.. In the semi-final of the U-20 World Cup she was sent off for a double yellow card and was unable to play in the match that would make Spain champion.. She couldn't play “with her boots” but she did “with her” soul, as she acknowledged through tears on the grass.. If his game grew, so did his mentality. She prepared herself physically, working on her right glove but also her left foot to become a perfect ambidextrous player, while continuing to demonstrate visual control and an intelligence to anticipate that reached Pep Guardiola's ears.. “She is a player that I am completely in love with because of the way she plays.”. “Aitana Bonmatí is like the Iniesta of women's football,” commented the City coach.
Laporta and Giráldez, with the trophy for the best women's club of the year.
“I have no words for these praises. I feel very proud to have been born on the same day as Pep Guardiola, who is an idol. I didn't see him play, but I did live through the glorious era of Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Messi, and being compared to your favorite player is extraordinary,” Aitana acknowledged.
When Alexia Putellas broke her cruciate on the eve of the European Championship in England, Aitana had to assume honors in the national team and in FC Barcelona. And not only on the grass. His leadership went beyond. She was one of the '15 rebels' who asked for changes after the fiasco in that competition and declared herself unselectable until the World Cup was on the horizon and the RFEF began to envision changes.
In the World Cup, Aitana shone with her own light after an extraordinary year in which she won everything and made history. No one has ever completed a year with this record.. With her club she has been champion of the Champions League, which elected her best player and part of the ideal eleven, of the F League and the Spanish Super Cup. Only the Copa del Reina escaped him. UEFA recognized her as the best European player. With the national team she was one of the most decisive for Spain to become world champion and, for that reason, she won the trophy for the best player.
Bonmatí succeeds Alexia in the list of winners of this Ballon d'Or and is seen as the perfect future in a club like FC Barcelona, which was also awarded as the best women's club of the year, a trophy collected by Laporta, Jonathan Giráldez and Patricia Guijarro.
Messi and his eighth ball
The photograph of the Ballon d'Or winners was completed by Leo Messi. He has been awarded eight times but, this time, he recognized that the merit is for what he did with the Argentine National Team.. “It's a gift for the entire group after what we achieved,” he admitted.
Messi did not forget Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, to whom he almost apologized and warned him that the Ballon d'Or will be his in other editions. But not Diego Maradona either.. It's Monday was your birthday: “Happy birthday. This is for you too. So I share it with him and with all the Argentine people.”
Messi, with his eighth Ballon d'Or.
For Messi it seemed that he had already done everything in football after winning the Copa América and the World Cup with the albiceleste. “I also had doubts and defeats, but I never gave up and I'm proud,” he revealed in front of his 'boss' at Inter Miami, David Beckham, who already seems to be seeing the end.. “I don't know if I have a lot or a little left. What I have left I want to enjoy as I have always done since I was a child.. And then enjoy from another side.”
Haaland, best forward
Messi's speech hinted that he already sees a generational change that Erling Haaland embodies. There was no doubt who was going to be chosen as the best striker of the season.. It was impossible for him not to be the winner of the Müller award after having scored 56 goals, being the top scorer and winner of the Champions League, the Premier League, and the FA Cup, and only having the mole of not having been to Qatar.. “Thanks to the entire club, the staff, Pep, for helping me,” said the Norwegian.
His secret is “to be hungry and always be ready in the area at the right time,” but he acknowledged that he is very well accompanied by “teammates who give me great passes.”. For this reason, Manchester City, with seven Ballon d'Or nominees, was chosen as the best men's team. “We are very proud of this season, which is the work of an entire decade. It is an honor to receive it for the second consecutive year,” thanked the general director, Ferran Soriano.
Emiliano Martínez, goalkeeper of Aston Villa and the Argentine national team, received the Yachine award for best goalkeeper of the season from his father after having been chosen as best goalkeeper at the World Cup in Qatar. In fact, when remembering his stops in the final against France, he received some whistles from those attending the gala.. The Draw was the first recognition received by an Argentine international of the many who were nominated for the Ballon d'Or.
Best Young: Bellingham
The Kopa trophy was not a surprise either. The most voted was Jude Bellingham, who beat Bayern player Jamal Musiala and Pedri. The Real Madrid player has been boosted by his extraordinary start to the season for the white team. “I appreciate all the trust and it helps me a lot to express myself like this on the field,” said the Englishman, who acknowledged choosing number 5 “because there weren't many free left and to pay tribute to Zidane.”. But Bellingham's mind is more focused: “Winning this trophy means a lot, although the most important thing for me is the team trophies,” he warned.
Vinicius Jr., against racism
The Brazilian from Real Madrid was recognized with the Socrates award that praises the social work carried out by footballers. Vinicius Jr. He received it for his promotion of the Vini Jr Institute in Brazil. “I am happy to help so many children who leave the favela. I had little chance of getting to where I am, that's why it's a pleasure to help them,” said the winger, who couldn't stop talking about racism..
It was put on the table by the gala's presenter, former striker Didier Drogba.. “It's boring that we have to talk about racism, but I'm ready when it's necessary.”. I hope all players can help us with this. Because it's sad. I ask you for strength to continue,” Vinicius summarized. The plea fell to Drogba to make: “I ask the football authorities and governments to act against racism.”