There was no surprise at the Apollo. There couldn’t be. Aitana Bonmatí has ??won the League, the Super Cup, the Champions League and the World Cup and has won all the individual awards this year, including the prestigious Ballon d’Or. Best player in the World Cup, the Champions League and UEFA Player of the Year. The Best could not escape Sant Pere de Ribes, which no longer has room for trophies at home. No one – neither man nor woman – can boast a track record like hers in the same year.
“Two weeks ago, when 2023 was ending, I felt nostalgic. It has been an exceptional, unique year. I will remember it all my life. Starting 2024 by collecting this award is incredible,” she said, collecting the award from Marta Vieira. The Brazilian soccer legend, who received special recognition for her career before presenting the trophy to the Blaugrana soccer player, will name the awards for best female goal of the year starting next year.
“This award would not be possible without the great season we have had at Barça and in the national team,” he said, thanking his teammates, staff, board, family and friends for their support all these years: “Without you, I would not be here collecting This award”.
Finally, the Blaugrana midfielder did not want to miss the opportunity to send a strong message in a year in which female footballers have had to fight a lot for their rights: “I feel proud to be part of a powerful group of players who are changing the world,” he said to conclude a speech in which he spoke in Spanish, Catalan and English.
It has been a dream year and although it is difficult to repeat it, the Blaugrana midfielder aspires to everything again in 2024. With FC Barcelona she can surpass last year’s treble by winning, in addition to the League, the Champions and the Super Cup, the Cup of the Queen that escaped them last year due to Geyse’s improper alignment. With the Spanish team he is about to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games, which would be the first in Spain’s history.
Just as it happened in Paris in the Ballon d’Or, Aitana Bonmatí succeeds Alexia Putellas at the top, who won The Best in 2021 and 2022. Before her, the trophy went to the now Blaugrana Lucy Bronze, who was also in London, together with Keira Walsh and Cata Coll.
The FC Barcelona goalkeeper, decisive in the World Cup won by Spain last summer, was left without an award and the award for best goalkeeper of the year went to the Englishwoman Mary Earps (Manchester United). The runner-up in the world with England repeats a recognition that she already won last year, with double the points than the Blaugrana goalkeeper, who came in second place.
The Barça expedition was not chaired by Joan Laporta, due to scheduling reasons. Vice president Elena Fort and the director responsible for women’s football, Xavi Puig, were there, accompanying the players and coach Jonatan Giráldez, who was nominated for best coach of the year. An award won by the Dutch Sarina Wiegman who made history as she was the first to win this award four times. She did it in 2017 after winning the European Championship with the Netherlands and repeated it in 2020 and again last year, after becoming European champion with England. Wiegman had some special words for Giráldez, whom she congratulated for the successes achieved and future and for “the daily work with the English players on the team.”
Once again, the choice of the ideal eleven came loaded with controversy. In a year in which Spain was proclaimed World Champion and Barça reigned in Europe, English footballers monopolized the eleven. Up to seven British women and only two Spaniards finished among the best: Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh, Alex Greenwood, Lauren James, Alesia Russo and Ella Toone. An eleven in which there are only two Spaniards, Aitana Bonmatí and Olga Carmona, scorer of the goal that gave Spain the World Cup. It is completed by Australian Sam Kerr and American Alex Morgan. The Real Madrid full-back highlighted the positive impact that the World Cup has had in the country and assured that “it will greatly help the rise of Spanish women’s football.”
The FIFPRO XI is chosen each year with the votes solely and exclusively of the footballers themselves. A reason why it is even more strange that year after year the election generates so much controversy. In 2021, for example, it did not include any of the three finalists for The Best nor any Barça footballer, who had won the treble that year. This year with Aitana there was unanimity.