FCBarcelona was once again the center of attention at the Ballon d'Or gala held in London, where the club won six awards and established itself as the most awarded team for six consecutive years. The success was mainly attributed to the dominance of the women's first team and the fruits of La Masía, with players and coaches who stood out in all categories.
Among the most relevant awards are the women's Ballon d'Or, which AlexiaPutellas won for the third time, and the men's Kopa Trophy, which LamineYamal won for the third consecutive year. VickyLópez was also awarded with the female Kopa Trophy for the second consecutive year, CataColl with the female Yashin award and PereRomeu as the best female coach. The Barça women's club was named Best Women's Club in the world, thus completing the list of six recognitions for the club.
UnaiSimón's speech was one of the most emotional moments of the ceremony. The former Athletic player spoke about human values, collective gratitude and the importance of family and coaches in his career. He mentioned KoldoAsua and the legendary Iribar as examples of instilled values and expressed his gratitude to Athletic and its fans. His intervention stood out for its humane and generous tone, moving away from the usual sporting egocentrism.
In the field of tennis, the WTA received criticism for banning Spanish tennis player KaitlinQuevedo from wearing a black crepe during her match in Guangzhou against Jill Teichmann. The decision was rectified after the intervention of the federation, although the initial position generated controversy, especially because the male player Jódar had worn the same outfit without problem.
In football, French national team commentator KylianMbappé apologized for a comment he considered out of place and disproportionate. The footballer had made a joke about the memes that represent him dressed as Mao Zedong, and the public reaction was greater than expected, which led Mbappé to clarify his intention.
The sport was also affected by the railway tragedy in Urda (Toledo), which left among its victims the Spanish athlete Julieta Gallego, one of the great promises of national athletics. The news shocked the sports community and reminded us of the fragility of athletes' lives.