Spanish football reigns supreme at Ballon d'Or awards
Spanish football once again proved its global dominance, as players from this country garnered seven out of the ten awards at Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris. This remarkable achievement underscored La Roja's supremacy in the world of football last season.
2:34 PM EDT, October 29, 2024
Spanish players and clubs stole this year’s Ballon d'Or ceremony. In the men's category, the Ballon d'Or was awarded to Rodri, the Spanish midfielder from Manchester City. Real Madrid players took second and third place: Brazilian Vinicius Junior and Englishman Jude Bellingham. Fourth place went to Spaniard Dani Carvajal, representing "Los Blancos."
In the women's category, the entire podium was filled by FC Barcelona players. Spanish player Aitana Bonmatí took home the top honor, followed by Norwegian Caroline Graham Hansen in second place and another Spanish player, Salma Paralluelo, in third. Additionally, Jennifer Hermoso was recognized with the Socrates Award for social commitment, and FC Barcelona was named the best women's club.
Spanish clubs excelled beyond individual honors. Real Madrid was named the best men's team of the year, and their coach, Italian Carlo Ancelotti, received the title of best coach. Lamine Yamal from Barcelona was acknowledged as the best young player.
These accomplishments reflect the recent achievements of Spanish teams. The Spanish men's national team won the European Championship, becoming the sole record holder with four titles. Their younger counterparts also triumphed in the Under-19 European Championships. The Spanish women's national team claimed victory in the World Cup, with the Under-19 and Under-17 teams winning their respective European Championships.
"Unstoppable" - comments after the Ballon d'Or ceremony
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez commented that Spanish football is unstoppable. As noted by the Polish Press Agency, these successes not only confirm the Spaniards' football talent but also highlight the high caliber of their coaches.
Spanish coaches are at the helm of top European clubs. In the English Premier League, Josep Guardiola leads Manchester City, Mikel Arteta manages Arsenal in London, and Unai Emery is in charge of Aston Villa. Xabi Alonso took Bayer Leverkusen to a historic championship and German Cup victory in Germany. In France, Luis Enrique is leading Paris Saint-Germain and is the current national champion.
The Spanish media described the Paris gala as a "great celebration of Spanish football." All signs suggest that Spain's dominance in soccer will continue for a long time.
