World Cup champion Aitana Bonmati could not have hoped for a better start to the year 2024 when she was appreciated during the Best FIFA Football AWARDS™ 2023 ceremony held in the Hammersmith Apollo theater in London.
The Spain and Barcelona midfielder was one of the nominees, along with her Spain teammate Jenni Hermoso for the Best FIFA Women’s Player Award 2023 given to the outstanding performer during the August 1, 2022 to August 20, 2023 time line.
Aitana Bonmati named 2023 The Best FIFA Women’s Player of the Year
Aitana Bonmati became the seventh different footballer to win the Best FIFA Women’s Player Award in the history of women’s football. She was presented with the award during the ceremony on January 16, 2024, in London for her remarkable performance in the previous year, which marked a significant date in the history of women’s football.
Aitana Bonmati, 25, topped the vote ahead of Real Madrid’s teenage Colombian starlet Linda Caicedo and Spain teammate Jenni Hermoso, with whom she has helped Spain win its first-ever Women’s World Cup, beating England 1-0 in the final in Sydney last August.
After winning the award, Aitana Bonmati emphasized the development and change that women’s football is bringing to this world, obviously referring to the Jenni Hermosos controversy.
“I’m proud of being part of a powerful generation of women who are changing the rules of the game and the world,” Aitana Bonmati said in English after winning the prestigious award, highlighting the essence of women’s empowerment that the sport possesses.
Exploring Aitana Bonmatí’s achievements in 2023
Due to her outstanding performances in the absence of Alexia Putellas, due to knee injury, Bonmati was appreciated with a place in the first-ever women’s team of the year where she was accompanied by Barcelona teammates Alexia Putellas , Salma Paralluelo , and others as well.
The award was presented to Aitana Bonmati for her excellent performance during the time span in which Bonmati won four major team titles.
Bonmati helped Barcelona Femeni triumph in Liga F, the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the Supercopa de Espana Femenina last season, scoring 16 goals and providing 19 assists in as many matches.
Bonmati produced a scintillating display for Spain in the FIFA Women’s World Cup to help them win it for the first time ever by providing three goals and two assists, and she even received the Golden Ball award for being the Player of the Tournament.
Bonmati also won the Ballon d’Or Feminin in October last year, thus continuing the Ballon d’Or Feminin streak of Barcelona Femeni players which was being handed over by Alexia Putellas till now before her injury.
Aitana Bonmati has won everything that she could in the previous year and has already started this year with a bang by winning the FIFA women’s player of the year award. But was it just a once-in-a-lifetime lucky season for her, or is she destined for more greatness in the near future? Comment below to share your thoughts on it.
