Aitana Bonmati’s Ballon d’Or Speech: Celebrating Language and Culture

Aitana Bonmati’s remarkable achievement of receiving her first Ballon d’Or in Paris stirred a range of reactions, particularly among opposition fans. It wasn’t a question of whether she deserved the honor, but rather the language in which she chose to deliver her speech—Catalan instead of Spanish.

In the face of this controversy, many devoted Cules rose to her defense, demonstrating their support and understanding.

De Reojo: “Hey, if you think it’s bad that Aitana Bonmatí spoke in Catalan when they gave her the Ballon d’Or, well, I don’t know… you win it and you can speak however you like. That’s what I think, huh?”

SergiPC: “She spoke in several languages, including Spanish and English. If it bothers you that a Catalan person speaks it, you are making a fool of yourself. Do you also think it was bad that Vinicius Jr spoke Portuguese? Grow up.”

ArielPN: “Love that she gave her speech in Catalan, so proud of her!”

FcbNerea: “The importance of Joan Laporta and Aitana Bonmatí speaking Catalan in Ballon d’Or is that they have made half of Spain cry on Twitter. Barça is not persecuted for the love of art, it is persecuted politically. They won’t be able to beat us.”

stevens: “She is simply Catalan and speaks the language as dignified as others; in addition, she also spoke English.”

Sólo_Barça: “I feel Spanish through and through but I will never understand people who criticize the fact that someone expresses themselves in the language of their region. If Andalusia had its own language, it would be proud of it too.”

Aitana’s choice to speak in Catalan resonated deeply with those who understand the importance of preserving language and culture, transcending the boundaries of sports and celebrating diversity.