This archive report was first published on 3 December 2019.
On December 2, 2019, Megan Rapinoe made history by becoming the first American woman to win the Ballon d'Or award, given to the best female soccer player in the world. The 34-year-old midfielder received the prestigious honor after leading the United States to a record-extending fourth World Cup title in France earlier this year.
Although Rapinoe was not present at the ceremony to collect the award, she expressed her gratitude in a recorded message. "I'm so sad I can't make it tonight. It's absolutely incredible congrats to the other nominees. I can't believe I'm the one winning in this field, it's been an incredible year," she said.
She also thanked her teammates and the U.S. federation for their support. Rapinoe's achievement marked a significant milestone in women's soccer, and her win was met with widespread acclaim.
Meanwhile, Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt won the Kopa trophy for the best Under-21 male player in the world, following a vote of international journalists. The award was presented at the same ceremony where Rapinoe received her Ballon d'Or.
Alisson Becker, a key player for Liverpool, was awarded the Yashin trophy for the best male goalkeeper of the year. The Yashin trophy is a new award that was introduced to recognize the outstanding performance of goalkeepers in the world of soccer.
Despite the recognition of outstanding female players, there was no trophy awarded for the best female Under-21 player or goalkeeper. The men's Ballon d'Or award was also presented later on the same day.
