In a historic moment for women's football, Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati has been awarded the Women's Ballon d'Or for 2023, marking a historic milestone in her career. The prestigious award recognizes Bonmati's exceptional contributions to both her club and her national team throughout the year.
AITANA BONMATI WINS THE 2023 BALLON D'OR 🏆 pic.twitter.com/xJZIF55QUj
— GOAL (@goal) October 30, 2023
At just 25 years old, Aitana Bonmati enjoyed a remarkable year that propelled her to the top of women's football. Bonmati played a pivotal role in Spain's World Cup success, a historic triumph for the nation. She also claimed the Golden Ball for being the best player of the 2023 Women's World Cup, underscoring her influence on the tournament. With Barcelona Femení, Bonmati played a pivotal role in their league and Champions League double. Her influence on the field was undeniable, with the midfielder scoring an impressive 118 goals and allowing just 10 in the league. With the aid of Bonmati's outstanding performances, Barcelona Femení reached three consecutive Champions League finals.
Bonmati faced stiff competition for the Women's Ballon d'Or, including players like Chelsea and Australia striker Sam Kerr and her Spain and Barcelona teammate Salma Paralluelo, who claimed second and third place, respectively. The Women's Ballon d'Or shortlist also featured prominent English players, such as Mary Earps, Rachel Daly, Georgia Stanway, and Millie Bright, who earned well-deserved recognition for their outstanding performances in the lead-up to the World Cup final. Ireland's captain, Katie McCabe, also received recognition as one of the 30 players nominated for this prestigious award, demonstrating the growing global presence of women in football.
“As role models, we have a responsibility on and off the pitch… Keep fighting together for a better, peaceful, and equal world.” 👏
World Cup Champion and UWCL Winner, Aitana Bonmatí shares an inspiring message after receiving the 2023 Ballon d’Or Féminin. 🥺 pic.twitter.com/z9SDVf17Cl— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) October 30, 2023
Bonmati's win makes her only the second Spanish player to claim the Women's Ballon d'Or, following the success of her compatriot Alexia Putellas. In her acceptance speech, Bonmati emphasized the importance of football figures being role models, both on and off the pitch, and fighting for a better, more equal world. She highlighted the responsibility of athletes in championing equality and peace.
Bonmati's extraordinary year and her commitment to driving positive change in women's football have made her a deserving recipient of the 2023 Women's Ballon d'Or. Her achievements serve as an inspiration to aspiring young footballers and reinforce the growing prominence of women's football on the global stage.
Nominees' Disappointment Highlights Scheduling Challenges for Female Footballers*
Amidst the joy and celebration surrounding the Ballon d'Or awards, a cloud of disappointment loomed for some of the nominees, including Georgia Stanway, a nominee for the Women's Ballon d'Or. Stanway expressed her profound disappointment at not being able to attend the prestigious ceremony in Paris. This unfortunate situation arose due to international commitments as the Lionesses, including Stanway, were away in Belgium for a Nations League match.
Beyond disappointing that the @ballondor was held during a women’s international break making it pretty impossible for most of the nominees to even attend. Do better!
— Jen Beattie MBE (@jbeattie91) October 31, 2023
For Stanway and many others, the Ballon d'Or ceremony represented a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." The disappointment of missing such a momentous occasion was unmistakable. Stanway, along with her fellow England nominees, Millie Bright, Rachel Daly, and Mary Earps, had played critical roles in the Lionesses' journey to the World Cup final in 2023, where they faced Spain and were defeated 1-0. Stanway's frustration with the scheduling of the Ballon d'Or ceremony resonated with many in the footballing community. She remarked that it would be far more ideal if the event had been "planned a little bit better." Specifically, she suggested that scheduling the ceremony on a day other than a matchday would have allowed more female footballers to participate in and savor the experience.
This issue of inconvenient scheduling is not new. In 2021, a similar situation arose when the Ballon d'Or ceremony coincided with the women's international break. An article by Telegraph Sport journalist Tom Garry pointed out the organizers' disregard for the women's award by scheduling it during a period when many of the nominees were involved in international matches.
“The national teams of all 20 of the women’s players who were nominated will either be playing matches on the night of the award ceremony itself or on the following day, which will certainly diminish the occasion for the players after their stellar performances in 2021.”
I wrote this two years ago but the same issue still applies today - scheduling the Ballon d'Or ceremony in the middle of the women's international window shows you the organisers simply don't care about the women's award #BallonDorhttps://t.co/n7ZKveao6m
— Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) October 30, 2023
It is also worth mentioning that there is only one prize offered for female players. Male players are able to win the Kopa Trophy for the best player under the age of 21, the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper, and the Gerd Müller trophy for the best striker. This year's Ballon d'Or ceremony saw no awards for women's goalscoring, goalkeeping or best young player.
The impact of such scheduling choices means that several deserving players may miss the opportunity to attend the prestigious event. This situation, unfortunately, reflects the ongoing challenges female footballers face in receiving the recognition they deserve and the importance of addressing these issues to ensure a more equitable future for women's football.
*Updated 01.11.2023
