THE ceremony for the most prestigious individual award a professional football player could ever receive was held two days ago.
The top prize was handed to a much-deserving World Cup winner – a raw talent and FC Barcelona great.
Oh, and Lionel Messi won in the men’s category too.
Aitana Bonmatí was called to the stage to collect her award, having had a very successful past season.
She won the World Cup with Spain this summer, playing a pivotal role in their midfield, and her performance won her the tournament’s Golden Ball.
Bonmatí has also been handed individual accolades from UEFA this year – Player of the Year and Champions League Player of the Year.
Her Ballon d’Or success was made even more satisfying to global fans as the ceremony fell on the same day that former RFEF President, Luis Rubiales, was banned from football by FIFA for the next three years.
Rubiales infamously forced a non-consensual kiss from Spain’s Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup final’s medal presentation.
Bonmatí was fortunate to be able to attend the ceremony in the first place, as the event was organised to be held in the middle of the international break.
Many players stayed with their teams in their respective national camps in order to properly recover and prepare for their next game – the results of which dictate 2024 Olympic qualification.
Had this week been a period where Jude Bellingham was training at St. George’s Park and not in Madrid, it is doubtful that the ceremony would have been scheduled the same way.
Messi would be the only male player in attendance, as he was the only likely-to-win male nominee no longer representing his nation.
Careless, is the only word that fits.
The players that did come owned the welcoming red carpet like it was nothing more than a recreational pitch.
Barça Feminí put on a show, with Bonmatí joined by teammates Fridolina Rolfö, Mapi León, Salma Paralluelo and Patri Guijarro.
It couldn’t be anyone else but the Culers accepting the award for Women’s Team of the Year – Liga F, Supercopa and Champions League winners this past season.
Such special awards on such a special night for professional football players.
Bonmatí has rightfully earned herself a place in the Hall of Fame and every football fan knows she deserves to be there.
Well, every fan of women’s football.
Because it was made clear that the organisers of the Ballon d’Or ceremony didn’t regard Bonmatí with equal measure when they decided to invite Novak Djokovic to present her with the award.
Why wouldn’t you want to see a tennis player present the best female football player in the world the most prestigious individual award she could win?
By this logic it would only make sense that the next winner of the Wimbledon Men’s Singles be handed their trophy by Christine Sinclair.
But what is an awards ceremony without some entertainment!
People quickly took to X to criticise how deeply unserious this year’s ceremony has been.
A performer was filmed shaking only the hands of the male nominees in the front row, completely and blatantly skipping most of the women as if they were nothing more than meaningless WAGs that tagged along for the photos and complimentary champagne.
Paralluelo, as mentioned earlier, was in attendance after putting herself in the limelight last season.
The 19-year-old was also a part of this year’s World Cup-winning Spanish team, and a regular starter for the ever-dominant Barcelona squad.
At such a young age, coming third overall for the most prestigious award is nothing short of a dream.
But a player of such unique talent at such a young age (who also competed for Spain in athletics) should be rewarded.
Alas, she had to sit and politely clap as the nominees were read out for the Kopa Trophy – the men’s Young Player of the Year.
There is no equivalent for the women.
And Mary Earps and Zećira Mušović were with their respective national teams knowing there is no women’s equivalent of the Yashin Trophy – men’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
It is not an arduous and sweat-inducing task to add two more trophies to have the equal opportunities for success that FIFA claims itself to have.
But in the wise words of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, “Pick the right battles. You have the power to change. You have the power to convince us men what we have to do and what we don’t have to do. Just do it. With men, with FIFA, you’ll find open doors. Just push the doors.”
And yet the critics wonder why women’s football fans are still far from satisfied.
In her acceptance speech, Bonmatí spoke perfectly, “Finally congratulations to all the nominees. All of them are great and inspiring footballers. As role models, we have a responsibility on and off the pitch. We should be more than athletes. Keep leading by example and keep fighting for a better, peaceful and more equal world.”
The organisers and FIFA have not commented on the matter.
Update: UEFA has partnered with Groupe Amaury (owners of France Football and L’Équipe) to co-organise Ballon d’Or from 2024. A men’s and women’s Coach of the Year award will be added, but no women’s Kopa or Yashin trophy.
