Aitana Bonmatí Clinches Laureus Award for Best Female Athlete

Barcelona’s footballer secures another individual accolade, reaffirming her status among the sporting elite “Today, I stand here because of the collective effort,” Aitana remarked upon receiving the award.

Aitana Bonmatí has been honored with the 2024 Laureus Award for Best Female Athlete at the gala held this evening at the Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid. The Barça player adds another individual distinction to her personal trophy cabinet, solidifying her position once again as the best female footballer of the moment. The Sant Pere de Ribes native outshone the other five nominees to claim the award: Shericka Jackson (athletics), Faith Kipyegon (athletics), Sha’Carri Richardson (athletics), Mikaela Shiffrin (alpine skiing), and Iga Swiatek (tennis). In doing so, she follows in the footsteps of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (athletics), last year’s winner. This marks the first time a female footballer has won this award, while in the male category, it has only been won by Leo Messi twice (2020 and 2023). It’s also the first time a Spanish woman has received this distinction, alongside Rafa Nadal, who was honored in 2011 and 2021.

Thus, the Catalan star puts the finishing touch on a dreamy 2023: La Liga and Supercopa triumphs with Barcelona, a World Cup appearance with the Spanish national team, and several individual accolades such as the Ballon d’Or, The Best FIFA Award, UEFA Women’s Player of the Year, Women’s World Cup Ballon d’Or, and UEFA Women’s Champions League MVP, among others.

“Everyone has supported me, and that’s why I’m here today.” After receiving the Laureus award, Aitana stated, “Last year was incredible for me and my teammates. Winning everything with our club and the national team was thanks to the collective effort of everyone, staff, doctors, assistants… That’s why I’m here today; everyone has helped me a lot.”

Now, the big challenge for the Barça player and her teammates is to overturn the deficit against Chelsea in the Women’s Champions League semifinals and secure a spot in the final of the continent’s top club competition, scheduled for May 25th at San Mamés. The London team secured a 0-1 victory in the first leg, held at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Montjuïc. Stamford Bridge will determine the outcome on Saturday, April 27th, with Olympique de Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain as potential opponents in the final.