Golden feats, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Ousmane Dembele and Aitana Bonmati won the Ballon d’Or for best men’s and women’s footballers for the 2024-25 season.
• Dembele scored a career-high 35 goals and assisted 16 in 53 appearances for PSG under coach Luis Enrique.
• Bonmati secured her third successive best player award, leading Barcelona to a domestic treble.
• Bonmati led Spain to the final of the European Championship in July, despite a loss to England.

Detailed Insights:

• Dembele's award marks a career redemption after a challenging period at Barcelona, where he struggled following a high-profile transfer in 2017.
• Dembele's success at PSG was boosted by the absence of major international men’s competitions, emphasizing club performance.
• Bonmati's consistent excellence places her among legends like Lionel Messi and Michel Platini with multiple best player awards.
• The Ballon d’Or selection criteria include individual performance, team achievements, fair play, and public image, as judged by journalists from top FIFA-ranked countries.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Ballon d’Or: An annual football award presented by France Football to recognize the best male and female players.
• Treble: Winning three major trophies in a single season, typically including the domestic league, domestic cup, and a major continental competition.
• FIFA: The international governing body of association football, responsible for organizing major international tournaments.