Tag Archives: Aitana Bonmati

Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí Named Best Player at the FIFA Women’s World Cup

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It’s the golden hour for Aitana Bonmatí.

The 25-year-old Spanish professional footballer and Spain midfielder has been awarded the Golden Ball for the best player at the Women’s World Cup after her team edged out England in Sunday’s final.

Aitana Bonmati,

England goalkeeper Mary Earps took home the Golden Glove after keeping three clean sheets at the finals, while Japan‘s Hinata Miyazawa won the Golden Boot and Spain’s Salma Paralluelo was named as the Young Player of the Tournament.

It completes a trophy-laden year for Bonmatí, who won Liga F, the Women’s Champions League and the Spanish Super Cup with her club Barcelona last season.

She was also named as the best player in the Champions League in 2022-23, propelling her into the running to win the next Ballon d’Or, which has been won on the past two occasions by her Spain and Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas.

Bonmatí’s case for further individual honors will only be strengthened by her performances in Australia and New Zealand as Spain won the Women’s World Cup for the first time, matching the men’s achievement in 2010.

Bonmati started all seven matches for Spain at the tournament, scoring three times and providing two assists.

The Silver Ball and Bronze Ball, for the second- and third-best players, respectively, went to Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso and Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt.

FIFA‘s technical study group, led by former USWNT coach Jill Ellis, are in charge of deciding the awards.

England’s Earps took home the Golden Glove after keeping clean sheets against Haiti, Denmark and Nigeria, also saving a penalty from Hermoso in the final.

Japan’s Miyazawa scored five times in five games to take the Golden Boot, but her goal scoring streak was cut short by a quarterfinal defeat to Sweden, who went on to finish third.

Finally, 19-year-old Paralluelo was named as the Young Player of the Tournament for her impact on Spain’s run to the trophy.

The Barcelona forward scored the winning goal in the quarterfinal win over the Netherlands and the opener against Sweden in the semifinals.

Aitana Bonmati Scores Two Goals to Help Lead Spain to Women’s World Cup Quarterfinals for First Time

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Aitana Bonmati has pulled a double…

The 25-year-old Spanish professional footballer helped Spain reach the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time by scoring two goals.

Aitana Bonmati,Overall, Spain produced an excellent display of firepower to thrash Switzerland 5-1 on Saturday.

“I think it’s in my character to act (like a leader). Even though I don’t have the captain’s armband I transmit that character to the team,” she said after picking up another player of the match award at the World Cup.

“When I have the ball at my feet I always look to help my teammates… We’re very happy and we should be proud of the work we’ve done today.”

Bonmati opened the scoring in the fifth minute when she pounced on a rebound, wrong-footed the goalkeeper with a swift turn and fired home, vindication and delight writ large on her face.

Half an hour later, she grabbed her second — almost a carbon copy of the first as she left Swiss players befuddled.

A quick flick in the box saw two defenders over-commit as she turned them inside out while the goalkeeper was sent the wrong way for Bonmati to fire into an open net.

It comes as no surprise that her close-quarter dribbling and sublime passing ability to create chances earned her comparisons with Spain and Barca great Andres Iniesta.

For Bonmati, there is no higher praise as she shines a spotlight on the ‘Barca Way’ having watched her idol while growing up, eyes glued to the TV “with my mouth open” as Pep Guardiola’s team conquered Spain, Europe and finally the world.

“I’m so proud when people compare me to Iniesta, what a player. They were the two I watched: Xavi and Iniesta,” she told FIFA in an interview earlier this week.

“They played the game in a way that I try and emulate. It was lovely football to watch, fun and beautiful.”

Spain will next face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.

Alexia Putellas & Barcelona Teammates Break Attendance Record in Women’s Football

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Alexia Putellas and her Barca teammates are celebrating an impressive record.

Barcelona broke the attendance record in women’s football for the second time in a month as 91,648 supporters watched them beat Wolfsburg 5-1 at Camp Nou in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal.

Alexia Putellas & BarcelonaThe previous record crowd for a women’s game had only been set by Barca in March, when 91,553 people attended their quarterfinal against Real Madrid — 95 fewer than attended Friday’s game.

Prior to that, the women’s record had stood since 1999, when 90,185 fans watched the World Cup final between the United States and China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

“It was spectacular, both today and a month ago against Madrid,” midfielder Patri Guijarro said in a news conference after the game. “We’re speechless, really. I’m sure as the days and years pass, we will become a bit more of what we have achieved. We’re still not completely aware of the magnitude of [the attendances].”

However, some estimates suggest 110,000 people attended Denmark’s win over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in the 1971 World Cup final, a tournament that was not officially sanctioned.

Barca usually play their home games at the 6,000-seater Estadi Johan Cruyff at the club’s training ground, but their Champions League knockout games have been moved to Camp Nou to accommodate the bigger demand for tickets.

This was just their third competitive game at the 99,000-seater stadium. They played against Espanyol behind closed doors last season due to the pandemic, and then for the first time with fans against Madrid last month.

On the pitch, they were too good for Wolfsburg, blowing them away with four first-half goals from Aitana Bonmati, Caroline Graham Hansen, Jenni Hermoso and Alexia Putellas.

Jill Roord pulled one back for the German side after the break, but Ballon d’Or winner Putellas added her second from the penalty spot to seal Barca’s 45th successive win in all competitions, a run dating back to last June.

The teams will meet again in the second leg at the Volkswagen Arena next Saturday, with the winners facing Lyon or Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Turin on May 21.

Wolfsburg coach Tommy Stroot was pessimistic about his team’s chances of turning things around in the second leg.

“Barca fans can book their tickets for the final,” he said. “They were favourites before the tie and now they’re even bigger favourites.

“Our challenge is to try and win next week without losing touch with reality. Wanting to win 5-1 is difficult, but winning is possible, although we have to change certain things.”