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Fairness and football are rarely good bedfellows. At the glitzy Golden Ball ceremony in Paris on Monday night, there was further evidence of this as Aitana Bonmatí collected the women’s award for the third year in a row. “I still can’t believe it. Incredible,” cheered the Spain playmaker. “Thank you for this … it really could have gone to anyone.” Except it didn’t. You see, France Football has a tendency to overlook more deserving characters by focusing on talent, attitude and output. The Edinburgh comedy award has a rule where no one can take home the bacon twice, allowing others to get their moment in the spotlight, too, and preventing Football Daily’s questionable comedy heroes from collecting it annually. It doesn’t matter that Bonmatí has been a consistent pinnacle of excellence in the game, driving Barcelona to the Liga F title for a sixth straight year and recovering from viral meningitis to play at the Euros. She also had a penalty saved in the final as England beat Spain, which came after succumbing to Arsenal in the Women’s Bigger Cup final.
Alessia Russo finished third, Chloe Kelly fifth and Leah Williamson seventh, in between a collection of Spanish runners-up. The three Lionesses can boast winning a continental double, surpassing their Catalan comrades to the tune of two. Football Daily, however, does not want to look all jingoistic by focusing on how English people have fallen foul of democracy. Scotland’s Caroline Weir finished 30th. Compatriot Scott McTominay was 18th in the men’s competition, after winning Serie A and going on the razz to celebrate for a month. The partying alone should have at least put him a few places above certain counterparts.
