Another year, another Ballon d’Or ceremony. And, once again, the voices within the women’s football community find themselves echoing past frustrations.
Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí won the main prize again, but the prestigious event, which should celebrate the pinnacle of football achievement, remains steeped in a troubling history of disrespect towards the women’s game. Instead of progressing, it feels as though the ceremony is trapped in a cycle that undermines the extraordinary talent and dedication of female athletes.
When Lyon’s Ada Hegerberg won the inaugural award in 2018, she was asked if she could twerk on stage by French DJ Martin Solveig, a moment publicly criticised by tennis star Andy Murray, among others. In 2023, when Bonmatí won, tennis player Novak Djokovic — known for his opposition to equal pay in sports — was chosen to present the award. It was a slap in the face to those who support women’s sports when, if someone had to be involved from the world of tennis, options like Murray or Billie Jean King could have been considered.
This year, actor Natalie Portman, one of the many co-owners of the NWSL‘s Angel City, presented Bonmatí with her second Ballon d’Or. Perhaps it’s baby steps to create a…
