Aitana Bonmatí took home the Golden Ball award Sunday after Spain won their first-ever Women’s World Cup title.
Together, the individual and team trophies are the biggest she has won in her career. But she also believes La Roja deserved the championship.
“We deserve it. We deserve it,” the 25-year-old midfielder said after the match. “Everyone knew the goal at the beginning of the preparation of the tournament. Everyone is competitive. Everyone has a strong mentality to win. We have been working a lot of years for this moment and we have it. We have the trophy.”
Spain put on a clinic both offensively and defensively in an all-around performance to claim the 1-0 win against England. Former U.S. women’s national team star Carli Lloyd called it the “most complete, beautiful team performance I have ever seen in a World Cup final” — and that would include the USWNT’s victories in 2015 and 2019.
Spain 🇪🇸 and @AitanaBonmati pure 🔥. Incredible. The most complete, beautiful team performance I have ever seen in a World Cup final. So fun to watch. #FIFAWWC #Congratulations #welldeserved— Carli Lloyd (@CarliLloyd) August 20, 2023
Spain 🇪🇸 and @AitanaBonmati pure 🔥. Incredible. The most complete, beautiful team performance I have ever seen in a World Cup final. So fun to watch. #FIFAWWC #Congratulations #welldeserved
England goalkeeper Mary Earps took home the tournament’s Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper. Lloyd noted that both Earps and Bonmatí being recognized was “well deserved.”
Spain’s Salma Paralluelo was named Young Player of the Tournament after scoring in the quarterfinal and again in the semifinal. Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa took home the Golden Boot for the most goals scored in the tournament with five.