The FC Barcelona soccer player, Aitana Bonmatí, was recognized as the best of the year at the III Mundo Deportivo European Women's Soccer Gala. A week after her big night at the Theater du Chatelet in Paris, Aitana Bonmatí continues to gain recognition. She won the Ballon d'Or award for best player of the year at the III Mundo Deportivo European Women's Football Gala.
The one from Sant Pere de Ribes, who offered the Blaugrana fans the Ballon d'Or this Sunday before Barça's overwhelming victory against Sevilla (8-0), was the big star of the night at the Antigua Fábrica Damm. Aitana confessed that “Everything has happened very quickly” since he collected the Ballon d'Or on Monday: “I have landed in Barcelona and I have not stopped having commitments. “I’m still on cloud nine.” The midfielder acknowledged that “it was very difficult as a child to be able to dream of winning all this, of winning Champions Leagues, World Cups…” and she was grateful for the new reality that women's soccer is experiencing today. She also wanted to send a message to the new generations: “We are leaving them a better path, although there is still much to do. We continue fighting so that they have these well-deserved conditions. I would tell them to take advantage of the opportunity they have and fight for their goals.”
The Antigua Fábrica Damm in Barcelona once again witnessed this Monday an event that has now been held for three years and in which the best female soccer players on the international scene are recognized. Personalities from the world of women's football paraded through it: players, coaches, presidents... In addition to the new Ballon d'Or, two other Blaugrana footballers were awarded. Patri Guijarro was recognized with the Talent Trophy and Fridolina Rolfö with the International Impact Trophy. The Barça expedition was completed by directors Elena Fort and Eduard Romeu and the coordinator of women's grassroots football, Jordi Ventura.
There were eight awards that were presented. In addition to the three Blaugrana footballers, another of the most special winners was Lise Klaveness. The president of the Norwegian Football Federation received the Legend Trophy. She is a former international soccer player, she has had a career in offices and she was the first woman to aspire to an open position on the UEFA Executive Committee, despite the fact that the European body did not choose her and opted for another man.
The Promise Trophy for the biggest revelation of the year went to Roma's young Slovenian, Zara Kramzar. At 17 years old, she debuted last season with the Italian team, playing in the Champions League – where they faced Barça – and lifting the club's first scudetto this summer.
The best goal went to Racheal Kundananji (Madrid CFF), against Athletic Club, going ahead of Mapi León's goal precisely against Roma, and the Valores Trophy went to Atlético de Madrid's Argentine Estefania Banini, for her fight to women's rights.
Finally, there was a special prize for the Spanish team that was proclaimed World Champion in Australia last August. The award was collected by Montse Tomé, Jorge Vilda's second in the World Cup and who took the reins of the team after the Madrid coach was dismissed. The Asturian coach arrived in Barcelona on Sunday and witnessed Barça's victory over Sevilla from the Johan Cruyff box with the president of the Norwegian Federation, Lise Klaveness.
