Sports
Aitana Bonmati Wins Second Successive Women’s Ballon d’Or
Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati on Monday won her second successive women’s Ballon d’Or, after leading her club to a historic continental quadruple of titles and claiming the Nations League with her country.
The 26-year-old playmaker joins team-mate Alexia Putellas as the only women to win the Ballon d’Or twice, since the award’s inauguration in 2018.
“This cannot be achieved alone, I am very lucky to be surrounded by players who make me better every day,” Bonmati said after receiving the award.
“Thanks to the staff, to the club workers, without you we would not achieve so much success.”
Already considered an all-time great of the women’s game, Bonmati was the stand-out performer as Barcelona romped to a trophy-laden 2023/24 season.
The Catalans won every trophy available to them last term — the Spanish league, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de Espana and a second-successive Women’s Champions League.
Bonmati scored a goal and put in a player-of-the-match performance as Barcelona beat Lyon 2-0 in the final of the Champions League to claim their third title in four seasons.
‘Proudest I’ve felt’
“It’s the first time we’ve beaten Lyon. I’m proud of the team, and we know that with these fans we have, we can’t fail,” Bonmati said after the crowning moment of her season, which was played in front of 51,000 spectators in Bilbao’s San Mames stadium.
A product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, the diminutive midfielder was also named player of the season by UEFA for her six goals and six assists during her side’s successful European campaign.
With eight goals and 11 assists in Spain’s Liga F, Bonmati was equally influential in guiding Barcelona to a fifth-straight league title.
The 2023 World Cup winner added the inaugural Women’s Nations League to her resume in February, when she scored Spain’s opener in their 2-0 win in the final against France.
She was again selected by UEFA as the overall player of the finals for her performances and goals in the semi-finals and final.
Only a shock defeat in the Olympics semi-final against Brazil prevented Bonmati from having the chance to secure a remarkable six titles for club and country in one season.
In April, Bonmati was named Sportswoman of the Year at the Laureus Awards, becoming the first footballer to do so, and was rewarded along with her Spain team-mates for winning the Women’s World Cup in August 2023.
She also received praise for helping to combat sexism in the Spanish football federation by protesting with her team-mates after disgraced former president Luis Rubiales forcibly kissed player Jenni Hermoso.
“She’s a role model of a player. How she trains, her attitude, the way she approaches things every day, she just sets a great example,” then-Barcelona coach Jonatan Giraldez said of his star asset in May.
“We met when she was starting out her career. I’ve watched her grow up, go through the whole process. I’m pleased to have seen everything that’s happened (to her), and she deserves it all.”
The women’s Ballon d’Or is chosen from a shortlist of 30 players by a voting panel of 50 international football journalists.
AFP
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen delivered a sensational performance, scoring twice to lead Galatasaray to a commanding 3-0 victory over Trabzonspor in the Turkish Cup final at Gaziantep Stadium.
The win secured Galatasaray’s 19th Turkish Cup title and their first since 2019.
Osimhen has been instrumental throughout Galatasaray’s cup run, bagging a brace in their 2-1 quarter-final win over Fenerbahçe and adding a goal and assist in the 5-1 semi-final rout of Konyaspor.
Facing a determined Trabzonspor side, last year’s runners-up, Galatasaray struck early through Baris Alper Yilmaz, who finished off a precise cutback from Yunus Akgün in the 5th minute.
Osimhen took center stage in the second half. He powered through a defender to double the lead, then capped a swift counter-attack with his second goal, his 35th of the season, putting the result beyond doubt.
The match also saw Osimhen face off against compatriot Anthony Nwakaeme, who was hoping to inspire Trabzonspor to glory on his return.
This triumph marks Osimhen’s first trophy with Galatasaray and the fourth of his career, adding to his U-17 World Cup, U-23 AFCON (both in 2015), and Serie A (2023) titles.
His 35-goal haul also sets a new record, surpassing Mario Jardel’s 24-year milestone to become the highest-scoring foreign player in a single season for Galatasaray.
Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, have secured a place in the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations U-20 tournament and qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Senegal.
The tightly contested knockout stage encounter ended goalless after regular and extra time, with both teams unable to find the back of the net.
Ultimately, it was Nigeria who triumphed 3–1 in the penalty shootout.
The match, held in the knockout stage of the continental youth championship, saw the two sides locked in a stalemate throughout regulation and extra time.
Despite numerous attempts from both sides, neither team could break the deadlock, leading to a penalty decider.
Nigeria converted three of their spot-kicks, while Senegal managed only one, allowing the Flying Eagles to clinch the win and progress to the last four of the competition.
The result not only sends Nigeria into the semifinals of the U-20 AFCON but also confirms their place in the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Veteran Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti has been officially appointed as the new head coach of Brazil’s national football team, according to reports by sports journalist David Ornstein. The 65-year-old will take over the role on May 26, immediately after overseeing his final match with Real Madrid against Real Sociedad in La Liga.
Ancelotti’s appointment marks a historic moment as he becomes the first foreigner to manage Brazil’s senior men’s team. Ornstein confirmed that all agreements have been finalized and contracts signed, with the transition negotiated amicably between Ancelotti, Real Madrid, and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). The deal was led by Diego Fernandes on behalf of the CBF.
One of the most decorated coaches in football history, Ancelotti will be tasked with leading Brazil through their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, aiming for a record-extending sixth World Cup title when the tournament kicks off in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The Athletic previously reported that Ancelotti had agreed to take charge through the 2026 World Cup. He will succeed Dorival Júnior, who was dismissed in March after 14 months at the helm.
Ancelotti’s debut on the Brazil touchline is expected on June 6, in a World Cup qualifier against Ecuador.
Since returning to Real Madrid in 2021, Ancelotti has added two La Liga titles and a Champions League trophy to his illustrious resume, which includes eight major European finals. However, recent performances by Madrid have been underwhelming, including a Champions League quarter-final exit to Arsenal, a Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona, and trailing Hansi Flick’s side by seven points in La Liga with three games to go.
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