The workers of the Lyceum who prepared Tonight's performance of 'The Cunning Vixen' They were peeking out with curiosity. They all wanted to see Aitana Bonmatí, for a day the main attraction on a stage where other stars usually shine. Bonmatí took photos with the Liceu workers the day she visited for a photo shoot to celebrate. his third consecutive Ballon d'Or. She arrived with two friends from Sant Pere de Ribes, her town, where she was having coffee in the town square on Tuesday, as always. "The thing is, I'm still the same Aitana as I always was. Where I feel comfortable is in the town square, with my family. If I have to go to galas and wear a suit, I do it, but my place is there," she explained at a press conference.

"Those of us who are from Ribes will always tell you that we are very much from Ribes; you'll see, ask whoever you want!" says Rubén Bernardo, who has been a coach at Club Deportiu Ribes for over two decades, with a friendly smile. "Apart from being president, I've done almost everything. I'm older than the crest!" he jokes. It's not unusual to see Rubén happy, but this Tuesday he is especially cheerful: Aitana Bonmatí, whom he coached as a child, has won his third Ballon d'Or"I didn't expect it, I jumped off the sofa! I was watching it at home with my wife, Lidia, and my son, Pau, who also played with Aitana as a child, and we were so happy," he says. Aitana's pride is the pride of a good part of Sant Pere de Ribes, a town of just over 30,000 inhabitants in the Garraf region where the newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner grew up and still lives.

Paris surrendered at the feet of a Catalan woman. Again, for the fifth time. The French capital dressed up for another year for the Ballon d'Or ceremony, the award given by the French magazine France Football and which recognizes the best players of the season. A historic gala, because Aitana Bonmatí won the Ballon d'Or ahead of Mallorca's Mariona Caldentey, who came in second. Alessia Russo, a double European champion with Arsenal and the English national team, finished third. In the men's category, it was a celebration for PSG: they were chosen as the best club, Luis Enrique won as the best coach, and Ousmane Dembélé won the grand prize, the Ballon d'Or, ahead of Lamine Yamal, who came one step away from causing an upset. The player from Mataró became the youngest player to climb the podium, doing so at 18 years old. Until now, the youngest had been Brazilian Ronaldo in 1997 at 21 years old.

Days before Spain-France, Lamine Yamal had already expressed his opinion on the Ballon d'Or, stating that it didn't depend on one match, but rather on who was the best over a season. Most media forums were focused on him and Dembélé, who will also be playing in the Club World Cup with PSG. After the Nations League semifinal, in which Lamine was chosen as the man of the match after scoring two goals and putting on another exhibition, the Barça player walked out with his cap tilted to the side of the press room and brazenly declared: "The Ballon d'Or is given to the best player of the year, but if they wanted to give it for today's game, I'd have no problem with it." Seriously: give it to him now, tomorrow if possible, and let's not talk about it anymore.

In Munich, Lisbon, Dortmund, and even in Saudi Arabia against Real Madrid's eternal rival. With a header, providing magical assists, or running 40 meters to win with his team, Raphinha always appears. The Barça striker has produced memorable performances this season: one hat trick against the Bavarian beast, a double in the Super Cup final against Madrid and Three goals for Porto Alegre in the aggregate of the tie against Benfica (4-1). The Brazilian striker is the one who puts in the most physical effort to take the win.