The only girl soccer player out of 400 boys… Aitana Bonmatti’s second ‘Ballon d’Or’ [플랫]

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The ‘godmother’ of Spanish female soccer players speaks out about the World Cup ‘forced kiss’ scandal

Aitana Bonmatti (26, Barcelona), who contributed to the Spanish women’s national soccer team winning its first World Cup, won the Ballon d’Or Award, given to the world’s best soccer player, on the 29th. Regarding Bonmatti’s second Ballon d’Or award, the media evaluated him as “the best player in the world who was tempered through many adversities, including discrimination.”

Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatti is holding up the trophy after winning the Women’s Ballon d’Or at the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony held in Paris, France on the 29th. Xinhua News Agency Yonhap News

In the early 2000s, there was a lot of prejudice that soccer was not a sport suitable for women. Bonmatti grew up facing this head-on. Coach Óscar Gamez, who has coached him since he was 7 years old, told the BBC, “His play felt like a tsunami of power,” and “Unlike other boys, he had the desire to constantly move forward.”

Bonmatti was the only female player in CD Ribes’ team at the time. Discrimination and stereotypes were confronted among 400 boys. Coach Gamez recalled, “He was discriminated against, but I never had to intervene. He had a very strong character, so no one could look down on him.” On a rough field, Bonmatti made a bold tackle, dusted himself off, and never complained.

His full name is ‘Aitana Bonmati Konka’. The mother, Rosa Bonmatti, attempted to register her daughter’s birth by writing her last name before her father’s (Vincent Conca) last name. When the Spanish government did not allow this, Rosa continued to fight by registering herself as a single mother and removing her husband Vincent’s information from the documents. Politicians and legal experts submitted related law amendments, and the bill was passed in 1999. The BBC evaluated it as “an opportunity to ensure that Bonmatti does not lose his voice.”

Bonmatti’s football journey was difficult. My mother suffers from a chronic pain condition, so driving is not easy. My father doesn’t have a driver’s license. Bonmatti had to travel 23 miles (approximately 37 km) round trip per day from Ribes to Barcelona by public transportation. Bonmatti’s parents are people with strong political beliefs, including being active in the Land Defense Movement (MDT), a coalition of socialist organizations that promote independence for Catalonia and surrounding regions. Under the influence of his parents, Bonmati grew up to be an independent and strong-willed person. Bonmatti became fascinated with philosophy, history, and justice within his family’s intellectual environment.

Barcelona coach Luis Cortés was impressed by Bonmatti’s dedication and placed him in the first team in 2019. “Bonmatti is a very ambitious player who always wanted to play an important role in the game,” said Coach Cortés. “He gave his all in every training.” Bonmatti later contributed to Barcelona winning the domestic league for four consecutive years and reaching the top of the European Champions League twice. Colleague Ona Batele praised him, saying, “He is the brains and nerve of the team.”

📌[플랫]A wave of feminism in Spain sparked by the World Cup awards ceremony’s ‘forced kissing incident’

📌[플랫]Former Spanish Football Association president ‘forcibly kissed’ a female player… 2 years and 6 months in prison

Spain won the Women’s World Cup in August 2023. At the time of the award ceremony, Luis Rubiales, former president of the Spanish Football Association, caused a big stir by forcibly kissing Renifer Hermoso, who was on her way to receive the award, without asking for her consent. “Abuse of power and disrespect cannot be tolerated,” Bonmatti said. “I support Henifer and all women who are going through the same thing.” Bonmatti was one of 15 players who had previously declared to the Spanish Football Association that they would not play for the national team in 2022 until there was a change in the culture and system that was damaging to their “mental state” and “health”.

Nine years ago, there were 44,873 registered female soccer players in Spain. It reached 100,000 in 2023. The BBC said, “Local people consider Bonmatti the ‘godmother’ representing the 180 girls who play for 14 local teams,” and “His comment that ‘ambition is followed by pain’ is a testament to his remarkable resilience that has continued to this day.” “It means,” he said.

▼ Reporter Kim Se-hoon shkim@khan.kr