Aitana Bonmati and Spain take home 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards

Midfielder Aitana Bonmati was named Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year for her key role in Spain's 2023 Women's World Cup victory and an impressive season with Barcelona.

Bonmati won the Golden Ball for the best player at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last year, as Spain were named world champions after beating England 1-0 in the final. The 26-year-old played in every game at the tournament and was a cornerstone of the team.

She also helped Barcelona win their second Champions League trophy in the 2022-23 season and won FIFA's The Best and Ballon d'Or awards, positioning herself as one of the best players in the women's game.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 20: Aitana Bonmati of Spain is awarded the FIFA Golden Ball Award at the ... [+] award ceremony following the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Final match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia on August 20, 2023 in Sydney / Gadigal, Australia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Bonmati became the first football player to be named the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year and she made her way to the stage twice on Monday as Spain were named the Laureus World Team of the Year, the first all-female team to win the prestigious award.

“I am honored to receive the Laureus for Sportswoman of the Year – and I am also very happy that my international team-mates have been recognized as the Team of the Year by the Laureus World Sports Academy,” Bonmati said at the event in Madrid.

“To be the first footballer to win this award makes it even more special and I hope to represent my sport in the same way that those great champions have done.”

Bonmati joined an elite list of winners, which includes Serena Williams, Simone Biles, Lindsey Vonn, Naomi