As a child she was dominated by her shyness. Now it’s the focus. And also from the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. Overall, he achieved everything. Two Champions Leagues, five Queen’s Cups, four leagues and also a World Cup. Individual awards elude him. Not for long. Aitana Bonmatí (Sant Pere de Ribes, Barcelona; 25 years old) is the best player of the 2022-23 season according to UEFA. It is the culé essence, the heir to Cruyff’s 14. Her rivals Olga Carmona, a teammate who scored the decisive goal in the World Cup victory, and Sam Kerr, the Australian star, have not stopped the culé player’s rise. Aitana recalled the Rubiales incident in her speech after the women’s team’s victory: “We just won a World Cup, but that’s not talked about. I want to remember what happened. I believe that as a society we should not allow abuse of power in a working relationship or lack of respect.” She was recognized as the best coach of the season by the English coach Sarina Weigman: “I dedicate this award to the players of the Spanish team; “They should be celebrated, but also heard.” And Bonmatí concluded: “To all the women who feel the same way as Jenni, we are at your side.”
“I am ambitious and want more,” she said on stage. He never gets football out of his mind. And it runs through his veins too. She is one of the first to train and one of the last to leave. More relaxed now. In the past, the desire for the ball sometimes overwhelmed her. “I would be lying if I said I didn’t win everything. I even want to win at marbles,” he said in an interview with El País last year. It’s competitive. Demanding. But above all, he is an ambitious person by nature. He loves football as much as he hates missing a simple pass. Aitana has been a non-conformist since she was a child. A book eater, daughter of two Catalan language and literature teachers. His father, Vicente Conca, was tortured by the Civil Guard and arrested on the eve of the 1992 Olympics because of his ties to the independence movements. Aitana wasn’t born yet. He would do so six years later, bearing both of his mother’s surnames for 16 months until legislation allowed him to put his maternal name first: Bonmatí.
He started playing with the guys from CD Ribes and CF Cubelles. She was the only girl and never thought she could pursue football. But there was no inconvenience in leaving the skin. She traveled many days by bus and train to train because her mother, Rosa Bonmatí, who gave her her first name and was the only one with a driver’s license, suffered from chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia and couldn’t always bear it; He left at 5:30 p.m. and arrived at his house after twelve p.m.
But at the age of 13 his life changed. A scout noticed her and she came to FC Barcelona. And he hasn’t moved since. In 2016, he made his first team debut, where he played 228 games and scored 73 goals for the Barça club. With obvious talent and football on his mind, he has focused on improving his physique and skills. Hours of training and coaching, review sessions with your agents to turn your weaknesses into strengths. Like hitting with your left foot. Aitana is right-handed, but now less and less.
She always pays attention to her surroundings. He likes to be in control of what’s happening on the field, with Alexia as his inside partner. Even without an armband, he is capable of captaining and directing. He has character and doesn’t mind showing it off. Pep Guardiola compared her to Iniesta, although his Barça idol was Xavi, not just because of his game but because of who he was. When he won the MVP of Barça’s first Champions League, he distributed the €50,000 prize to a foundation that supported refugees. His social concerns and his fight against inequalities led him to work with the UNHCR, the Cruyff Foundation and other NGOs.
“I would like to dedicate this award to the Spanish women’s national team”
“They deserve to be celebrated and heard”
Sarina Wiegman, UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year, with a beautiful message 👏#UEFAawards pic.twitter.com/46b7ysCLKm
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 31, 2023
After the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, he went straight home to rest. Neither Ibiza nor pre-season in Mexico. You have probably returned to consuming books, relieving stress and tension with friends or family, or meditating using an application that you have downloaded on your cell phone and from which you have to disconnect from time to time.
This year Aitana has reaped everything she has grown in her career. He took home all the individual awards. MVP and ideal eleven of the Champions League, top scorer of the Spanish Super Cup and Golden Ball of the Women’s World Cup. But there is a gap between the eyebrows for the most prestigious trophy. His next goal is clear: the Ballon d’or. For now, the focus will remain on Aitana, a shyness that turns into a desire to compete. And she will still want to win everything.
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