Spanish football received a shower of applause and recognition from the international scene, with a good handful of candidates for the most interesting awards of this gala. And with several renowned awards among which the first Ballon d’Or of Rodri and the second for Aitana Bonmatíkey player for Barcelona who won four titles this past season (League, Queen’s Cup, Spanish Super Cup and Champions): «I am very grateful to be here again and collect my second Ballon d’Or, but I have to say that I am not it is achieved alone. I am very lucky to have great soccer players around me who make me continue to grow and be a better player every day. “As long as I continue to have this ambitious mentality, I will continue to fight for a long time to win titles with the club and the national team.”
It was the mainstay of a night in which almost all the representatives of national football were present in nominations and presence. Luis de la Fuentesenior men’s coach, summed up the feelings of the entire team: «More important than the individual awards is to be here representing Spanish football. “It’s a pride.” The man from Rioja was also pleased to have entered the list of candidates in the coaching category, with colleagues who share a language such as Jonatan Giráldez (Barcelona women), Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) y Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen).
It is a quantitative leap, to say the least, with respect to other editions of this historic contest in which the only winner in the men’s category until now had been Luis Suárez in 1960. Although in the women’s category, Spain has been a reference since this award was given ( 2018), with the Golden Balls of Alexia Putellas (2021 and 2022) and those of Aitana Bonmatí (2023 and 2024), in addition to the silver of Jenni Hermoso (2021) and the bronze of Salma Paralluelo (2023 and 2024).
A very good team can be made with the national nominees, from a goal guarded by Unai Simón (Athletic Club); with a defense made up of Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) and Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen); with a midfield composed of Rodri (Manchester City), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona), Alexia (Barcelona), Salma (Barcelona) and Patri Guijarro (Barcelona) and the attack with Iñaki Williams (Athletic), Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal) and Lamine Yamal (Barcelona). The latter also starts with the support of the present and the future, as he won the Kopa award for young talent under 21 years of age, in which his locker room partner Cubarsí was also nominated.
And if there is a very good game on the home turf, the world of football applauded with its nominations the philosophies of De la Fuente, Guardiola, Xabi Alonso and Jonatan Giráldez. So much so that the national collective has also gained integers as a global reference. Barcelona was the winner of the award for best women’s team. «It is a true honor to receive this award. Thanks to the players and everyone who works hard to make us the best team in the world. Having that honor is special because it means many things: commitment to women’s football, commitment to rights and equalities,” explained Joan Laporta. In the men’s category, Girona and Real Madrid were competing, and it was the white team that took the award despite the absence of representatives at the Chatelet Theater to collect the trophy.
The one who was present to receive the Socrates award, for solidarity values, was Jennifer Hermoso, who had a speech towards the future: «It makes me aware of the responsibility that all footballers have on and off the field. She is one of all my colleagues with whom I share a terrain where equality is not always a fact. “We want to leave football in a better place than we found it for the new generations.” For the moment, the present and future of Spanish football receives the applause, recognition and respect of the international scene and the two highest awards: for the best and best footballer in the world.
