The Controversial Balón de Oro Decision: A Deeper Look
Let’s get straight to the point: Aitana deserved to win the Balón de Oro. Rodri did too. The fact that Emma Hayes won is not surprising. Giving it to Ancelotti is also understandable. The best clubs of the year, the male Madrid and the female Barça, can be easily determined by a visit to their trophy cabinets. It is just as fair to say that Lamine has been the most impactful young player as it is to acknowledge that Dibu Martínez knew how to be decisive again.
Controversial Choices and Deserving Candidates
- If they had given it to Hansen, we would have understood why.
- If Vinicius had won, it would have been a recognition of his key role in a team that won the Liga and Champions League.
- Jonathan Giráldez, who won everything he could, and Xabi Alonso with his Leverkusen, who only fell to Atalanta, also had strong cases.
There is only one Balón de Oro, and it is good that there is debate about who should win it. If there were two, three, or infinite awards, it would diminish the value of making one winner happy and leaving dozens of aspirants disappointed. For years, fans of women’s football—who were fewer and quieter—were indignant at the doors of this award because it was a painful reminder of our sad reality: it would be given to one of the few names that voters could recognize from a list of almost anonymous footballers.
The Evolution of Women’s Football Recognition
In the small universe of women’s football, national competitions were always the best showcase. Leagues were not televised, clubs barely reported on day-to-day activities. It is difficult to vote for what you do not see, impossible to intervene in what you do not know, and outrageous not to act on what you are aware of but hide.
The ovation on Monday night in Paris was for Jennifer Hermoso, who we hope had never had to step up to receive the Sócrates award but to whom we will be eternally grateful for having the courage to expose everything to the fullest extent. Every moment of awareness will be insufficient until this stale and sexist system that has historically suffocated women who wanted to be footballers is cleaned up.
The Social Power of Football
Football is more than just a sport, it is a social engine that is always more powerful when it pays attention to much more than just football. It has that opportunity, and it is wonderful that it wants that responsibility. Football players have recognized themselves as spokespeople for an empowering movement that helps women from other less visible environments. They are brave, ambitious, intelligent, competitive, and committed. They use their platform to push others forward and lead the way.
Including fair play among the criteria for judging a Balón de Oro candidate is a luxury that we cannot overlook by reducing everything to goals or titles. It is important that the individuals we showcase are exemplary, not perfect, but sportsmanlike. We have an opportunity to (re)build a football in which, alongside imitating dribbles or hairstyles, we also emulate sporting, committed, and educated behaviors. Let the role models win. Let football win.
Conclusion
The Balón de Oro may spark debates and controversies, but it also sheds light on the progress and challenges in football, especially in recognizing the achievements and contributions of women in the sport. As the world of football evolves, it is essential to continue striving for fairness, equality, and respect across all levels of the game.
FAQs
1. Who ultimately won the Balón de Oro?
Emma Hayes was the recipient of the Balón de Oro, sparking discussions and reflections on the criteria and values upheld in football awards.
2. Why is fair play important in football?
Fair play is crucial as it promotes ethics, respect, and integrity in the sport, setting a positive example for players, fans, and the broader football community.