Norway’s Erling Haaland and Spain’s Aitana Bonmati were named UEFA best player and player of the year on Thursday in Monaco on the sidelines of the Champions League draw. The 23-year-old striker, a great architect of the historic treble Cup / championship / Champions League achieved by Manchester City by having scored 52 goals in all competitions, was preferred to his Belgian teammate Kevin De Bruyne and the Argentinian Lionel Messi.
The 25-year-old Spanish midfielder, winner of the Champions League with Barcelona then the World Cup with Spain, being named best player of both competitions each time, beat her compatriot Olga Carmona and Australian Sam Kerr . Aitana Bonmati took advantage of the platform to support her teammate Jenni Hermoso, who was forcibly kissed on the podium after the world championship final by the president of the Spanish football federation Luis Rubiales since suspended by Fifa.
“As a society, we must not allow abuse of power in a working relationship or lack of respect,” she said. I dedicate this award to Jenni and all the women who have suffered from these situations. We are with you. The player of the year thanked the support also provided by Sarina Wiegman, the head of the English selection, elected coach of the year. She dedicated her prize to the Spanish players against whom the English lost in the final: “They played such beautiful football, they should be celebrated and listened to. »
And to assure: “What is happening around the Spanish team really hurts me as a coach but also as a mother. I dedicate this award to this team from Spain”.
