'I haven't slept for days' - Aitana Bonmati overwhelmed by 'dream' Ballon d'Or triumph as Barcelona Femeni star sends special message to club presiden

Aitana Bonmati expressed her emotions after winning the Ballon d'Or Feminin award and expressed her gratitude to Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona.

WHAT OCCURRED? Bonmati, who became a champion of both the Champions League with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain in the last five months, took to the stage at the Theatre du Chatelet where she received her Ballon d'Or award and spoke.

REWRITTEN: "I'm feeling quite anxious since I haven't slept in a few days. This is truly a dream come true for me. I usually keep to myself, but being here is an unforgettable experience," she expressed when sharing her emotions after receiving the award. "I'm extremely proud because this year has been exceptional in terms of sports, and even though I'm here to accept an individual award, football is a team sport. Therefore, I would like to dedicate this award to my teammates, staff, and everyone who works at Barça and the national team. I wouldn't be here today without their support."

I want to express gratitude to the various teams I was able to play for such as Ribes, Cubelles, and most importantly, Barça. I am especially thankful to my club, and its president, Joan Laporta, who is here with us today. They took a chance on us when no one else did, and without them, I would not have had the chance to become a professional footballer. It's truly amazing to think that as a little girl, I could have never imagined playing in a packed Camp Nou. Today, Barça is a dominant force in the world of football.

THE OVERALL VIEW: A lot of people involved in women's football believe that Bonmati deserved to win the Ballon d'Or for a while now. She was the best player of the Champions League final in 2021 and had individual success by receiving the World Cup Golden Ball as the tournament's outstanding player and being named as the UEFA Women's Player of the Year. At 25 years old, she's predicted to also win the Best FIFA Women's Player award. Additionally, she achieved team successes in 2023.

What's next for Bonmati? The upcoming Best FIFA event will occur in the beginning of next year. In the meantime, Bonmati will rejoin the Barcelona team this weekend to take on Sevilla at home as they continue their defense of the Liga F title. Benfica's visit on November 14th will commence the Women's Champions League group stage, with the initial Clasico against Real Madrid scheduled for a few days later at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.