Golden Ball 2024: 'I learned a lot in Vietnam'

On the morning of October 29, female player Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona) was honored at the 2024 Ballon d'Or award ceremony, as the best female player. This is the second time she has received the noble title from France Football magazine, with the first time taking place just exactly 1 year ago.

At the age of 26, Bonmati has conquered all the noble titles of women's football. Notably, Bonmati once revealed in the article "10 things you should know about me" of The Players Tribune magazine, that she learned a lot during her trip to Vietnam in 2019.

"I learned a lot in Vietnam. I love disconnecting from the world by traveling. A few years ago, while backpacking through the mountains and rice terraces, I saw some kids running around on sharp rocks. They had no shoes, no one around, and were sitting on the edge of very high rocks.

In our country, parents would grab them right away. But these kids just sit there and laugh. In Europe, we think about what we don't have, you know? The kids don't even have shoes, but they're happy," Bonmati said.

Aitana Bonmati on a trip to Bai Dinh Pagoda in 2019.

Aitana Bonmati is a player who grew up in Barcelona's La Masia academy. She is also a daughter of Catalonia. Considered a football icon of the bullfighting country, Aitana almost left Barcelona because she thought she was not capable enough. When Bonmati was 17 years old, Barcelona's first women's team was established. Two years later, Bonmati was promoted to play for Barcelona, starting the period of La Blaugrana's domination.

Under the brilliance of Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes and Aitana Bonmati, Barcelona won 3 Champions League titles, 5 Liga F (Spanish women's national championship) and 4 Spanish Super Cups between 2019 and 2024.

In the national team, Bonmati played brilliantly to help Spain win the 2023 Women's World Cup. She won 2 Golden Balls in 2023 and 2024, and was also the owner of the FIFA The Best 2023 title, and UEFA Best Player 2023. Aitana Bonmati is one of the greatest players in the history of women's football.

At the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony, the Barcelona women's team also won the title of best club of the year. The two runners-up after Bonmati in the Golden Ball race were also her teammates at Barcelona: Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo.

Bonmati's two compatriots, Lamine Yamal (Kopa Cup) and Rodri (Men's Ballon d'Or) also won prestigious awards.

Bonmati is still playing regularly for Barcelona. She has scored 3 goals in 5 matches for the club in Liga F, helping La Blaugrana lead the table with 7 wins out of 7. Barcelona's attack has scored 36 goals, with an efficiency of about 5.14 goals/game.

Thanh Loc

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/qua-bong-vang-2024-toi-hoc-duoc-rat-nhieu-dieu-tai-viet-nam-ar904894.html