Monday, October 28, 2024, 3:13 p.m.
| Updated 9:00 p.m.
Real Madrid, according to various information, is not traveling to the Ballon d’Or gala that will take place tonight in Paris. A tremendous last-minute anger from the white club when they understood that Vinicius, the clear favorite, will not win the award. The entity’s channel, Real Madrid TV, has also canceled the five hours of programming it had dedicated to the gala.
From France they point out that the Madrid striker will not win that long-awaited individual trophy, and the club chaired by Florentino Pérez considers the way in which the award will be won a lack of respect from UEFA and the Ballon d’Or organization. In Chamartín they interpret that, if it is not the Brazilian attacker, it should be Dani Carvajal, champion of the Champions League and the Euro Cup with Spain.
Rodri Hernández, Premier League champion with Manchester City and also a key player in the last Euro Cup, is the great candidate. The midfielder is already in Paris, where he arrived on crutches after his anterior cruciate ligament injury.
From Mallorca, for his part, Nico Williams will find out the position he occupies among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or. «A source of pride for the athleticzale family! From Lezama to the top of the world. “Deserved, Nico!” Athletic published this morning in reference to the first red-and-white player to aspire to such a precious trophy. Unai Simón, meanwhile, is one of the contenders for the Lev Yashin Trophy that distinguishes the best goalkeeper in the world.
Aitana Bonmatí, going for the second
Aitana Bonmatí aims to repeat as winner of the women’s Ballon d’Or. A complete success for Spanish football because it would mean that, for the first time in history, two Spanish players are named as the best footballers of the past year. An award that in the men’s category has only been won by a Spaniard, while in the women’s category there have been two soccer players born in our country who have won it. Luis Suárez was the first, 64 years ago. She did it in 1960. Then, the women’s category arrived, with Alexia Putellas, who won it in 2021 and 2022, as well as Aitana Bonmatí who won it in 2023.
Spaniards such as Emilio Butragueño, who came third twice consecutively in 1986 and 1987, or Raúl González who in 2001 came in second place only surpassed by Michael Owen, were left at the doors. An award that more recently Fernando Torres was close to winning in 2008, Xavi Hernández in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and the other footballer was Andrés Iniesta in 2010 with that goal that gave Spain its first World Cup in history.
The celebration for Spanish football would be completed in Paris with the coach of the year award for Luis de la Fuente and the Socrates award for Jenni Hermoso, which honors a footballer who has stood out for his commitment to society and the promotion of a more equitable and inclusive world, and that last year it was won, this time by Vinicius.
