Aitana Bonmati, the 2023 female Ballon d’Or winner, has named the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernadez and Lionel Messi as her favourite male footballers.
Bonmati said this while insisting that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is her idol.
The Barcelona midfielder spoke on Monday night in Paris after winning this year’s Ballon d’Or prize.
The 25-year-old was informed by Chelsea legend Didier Drogba that Guardiola said she is the female version of Iniesta.
Bonmati replied, “I don’t have any words (laughs). I always say I am very proud to have been born on the same day as Pep Guardiola, January 18.“He is an Idol to me. I didn’t see him play, but I did get to experience the glorious era he gave us at Barcelona with Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Messi.“Those years were some of the happiest of my life. To have someone like Guardiola praise you and even compare you to Iniesta, who is my favourite player alongside Xavi Hernadez and Messi, is unique.”