Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmatí is crowned the 2023 Women's Ballon d'Or winner, becoming the youngest recipient of the award.
Photograph: Stéphanie Lecocq/ReutersPhotograph: Stéphanie Lecocq/ReutersBrilliant Spain midfielder is making an impact on and off the pitch and deserves all the accolades coming her wayt was never in doubt, was it? As Aitana Bonmatí’s name was read out in Paris on Monday night, there was a collective sigh of relief that the Spanish midfielder, arguably the world’s best player by some distance in the last 12 months, had been crowned the 2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or winner.
Whether sitting deep or pushed higher up, as she was at Barcelona last season, Bonmatí links defence to attack with effortless elegance. She commands the pitch with understated authority and energy. Her vision, versatility and ball-possessing skills are second to none while her ability to break an opponent’s press are crucial to her teams’ success.
She is also a player who is finding her voice away from the pitch, unafraid to use her platform to speak up. Her speech after picking up the Uefa Player of the Year award in the aftermath of the Luis Rubiales controversy received high praise and she echoed similar thoughts on Monday. “As role models we have a responsibility on and off the pitch,” she said. “We should be more than athletes and keep leading by example and fighting together for a better, peaceful and equal world.
Once again, however, controversy surrounded the ceremony and France Footballhas questions to answer. One would have thought that after the infamous, lessons would have been learned but numerous incidents on Monday evening called the Ballon d’Or’s treatment of women’s football into question.
Aitana Bonmatí Women's Ballon D'or Spanish Midfielder Football Award
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