Aitana Bonmati’s voice of protest reaches its peak during her second Ballon d’Or | Football | Sport

The Ballon d’Or appears to have found a permanent home in Barcelona. For the fourth year in a row, this award has been presented to a Spanish footballer and culé footballer. “My winning, competitive and ambitious mentality is what has essentially made me the player I am,” she said in a video broadcast at the gala after thanking her teammates and her club: “It can’t be done.” achieve alone.” Bonmati saw her Barca teammates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo take the all-Barca podium. This year, at the Châtelet Theater in Paris, Aitana Bonmati (Saint Pere de Ribes, 26 years old) won her second Ballon d’Or, repeating the record of her teammate Alexia Putellas. It was the culmination of a year of demands and leadership, not just football. On the pitch, Aitana enjoyed a historic season at Barcelona, ​​winning a number of titles – Champions, League, Super Cup and Cup – with 19 goals and 19 assists in 40 games. She was also recognized as the best player in the Champions League (she scored in the semi-finals and finals) and the Nations League, in which she became champion as part of the Spanish national team. They were unlucky at the Paris Games: fourth place after the historic standings. But, in addition to grass, it is one of the leaders in social needs.

“I have always been concerned about the most vulnerable. And having a speaker made me more involved. I do it because I feel it. It’s in my family’s DNA because my parents have always been active in fighting against social and gender inequality,” he explained in an interview with EL PAÍS. Aitana was among 15 players who asked not to be called up to the national team until they felt they were heard and appreciated. Some, including Aitana, returned to compete in the World Championships in Australia. But everything was overshadowed by Luis Rubiales’ non-consensual kiss with Jennifer Hermoso.

After receiving the UEFA Best Player award, Bonmati decided to raise her voice, demanding respect and dignity for women. “As a society, we must not tolerate abuse of power or lack of respect in work relationships.” And she said: “To all the women who suffer like Jenny, we are with you.” The players rearmed under the “It’s over” banner and the brawl ended with the resignation of Rubiales and then-coach Jorge Vilda.

Behind her world figure, a vengeful woman appears. Origin, ideals of his parents, from whom he inherited his character. Vicente Conca, Aitana’s father, was arrested on July 1, 1992 by the Civil Guard at the headquarters of the Earth Defense Movement. According to his own words, he was interrogated blindfolded, beaten and tortured for three days. Blindfolded, he was interrogated, beaten and tortured for three days. Blindly he listened to the cries of his companions. Sometimes with a garbage bag on his head; others with a gun in their mouth or with their head submerged in water. The first day he did not eat or sleep. Third, they woke him up to force him to stand up or force him to do push-ups. On the fourth day, he appeared before Judge Baltasar Garzón as part of Operation Garzón, an investigation into people linked to the Terra Llure independence movement in the weeks before the Barcelona Games. 25 people were brought to trial, 17 said they were tortured. In 2004, 12 years later, the European Court of Human Rights condemned the Spanish state for failing to investigate allegations of torture.

Conca was born in Ontinyent (Valencia) into a poor and large family. Aitana spent a week there at Christmas and two in the summer as a child, and it was there that her uncles Tony and Merce gave her her first Barça shirt. His father spent seven years picking fruit in Lleida and Penedes to pay for his studies (he received a scholarship to UB) and his upkeep. Aitana has learned from her parents’ efforts and struggles. For example, first bear your mother’s surname. When he was born, in 1998, Spanish law did not allow this, since for more than a year and a half he appeared with two of his mother Rosa Bonmati. So far, after their struggle and the struggle of other families, they have not been able to legalize it since 2000.

It is not surprising that Aitana, knowing about the clear and direct ideas of her relatives, at some point tried to stop her mother. At the end of 2019, at the Catalan Football Federation’s awards gala, Aitana warned Rosa not to talk to the press or people from the club. But when the footballer turned around, she found her mother talking to then-president Josep Maria Bartomeu. Of course, with additional demands: that the players play at the Camp Nou – later they will achieve this and break attendance records – that ticket prices for Johan increase and other demands. “They gave me courage in the struggle of women and social consciousness to help the most disadvantaged and fight against all those causes that I consider unfair,” Aitana shared in her book “United We Are Stronger.” Now he applies this to his profession.

Hiding from everyone’s attention, Aitana will return to Ribes along with her usual friends, to her usual square. The best footballer in the world will rely on his family and his bubble; He won’t talk about football: the Golden Ball will remain with him, and he will take out the guitar.