The FC Barcelona and Spain midfielder returned to her origins in Catalan grassroots football with CD Ribes after winning the Ballon d’Or for the second consecutive year.
Once, in a town of only 30,000 inhabitants in Catalonia, Aitana Bonmatí was a football-crazy child. She has now won the Ballon d’Or twice.
The town team, CD Ribes, which is situated in Sant Pere de Ribes, 41 kilometers down the coast from Barcelona, had taken notice of a seven-year-old Bonmatí in 2005.
In a world where men predominate, she had to struggle for her position. For example, her parents fought to have their child wear her mother’s last name instead of the Spanish custom of having your father’s last name first.
That marked the beginning of what has become a glittering career. At the age of 14, he joined FC Barcelona’s renowned “La Masia” academy after originally joining CF Cubelles.
In a Paris award ceremony, Bonmatí was crowned the finest women’s football player of the previous 12 months and won the Ballon D’Or 2024 on Monday, October 28, for the second year in a row.
Olympics.com gave the midfielder a nostalgic look back at her playing days at Ribes only minutes after she raised the prized trophy.
“I want to serve as an example for many young girls today,” Bonmatí stated. “I’m hoping that a lot of girls and boys will see themselves in me and that this will reach a lot of homes.
“I want to encourage a lot of young guys and girls as well. such as the Aitana in the picture, who at the time lacked female role medals and clearly required them.
Last season, Barcelona won all four major titles, including a third Champions League victory, in which she scored the game-winning goal. Bonmatí was an essential part of that team.
Bonmatí went on, “I always like to remember where I come from.” “I am grateful to Cubelles for welcoming me and to Ribes for allowing me to play with boys for so many years.” And I see my entire path up to this point when I reflect on the past.
She scored in the 2-0 victory over Olympique Lyonnais in the Champions League final in Bilbao, which was her most memorable performance.
