Japanese Football Fans React to Ballon d'Or Awards
Listen to the story
The Ballon d'Or awards ceremony brought mixed reactions this year, with good news for Japanese football alongside criticism from some international fans.
At the event, a notable achievement for Japanese football was announced, which was reported as positive news back home.
However, not everyone was pleased with all the results. Some overseas fans strongly criticised one of the award decisions, with one comment calling it "the biggest robbery in history."
Among the main awards, Aitana BonmatÃ's teammate, Alexia Putellas, won the best women's player prize. This marked her third win in four years, confirming her place among the top female footballers of her generation.
In the coaching category, Luis de la Fuente was named the best men's manager.
Japanese player Mana Matsukubo, aged 22, was also present at the ceremony. She plays for Japan's women's national team, known as Nadeshiko Japan.
Matsukubo wore a sleeveless black dress for the event and was seen in a close photo with England striker Harry Kane, which attracted attention on social media.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony is one of the most watched events in world football, recognising the best individual performances of the year.
As usual, the results sparked lively debate among fans worldwide, with some celebrating the winners and others expressing strong disagreement with the jury's choices.
Vocabulary6 words
- Ballon d'Or
- a famous yearly prize for the best football player
- robbery
- here, a result people think is very unfair
- manager
- the person in charge of training a team
- Nadeshiko
- the nickname for Japan's women's football team
- individual
- about one single person, not a group
- jury
- the group of people who decide the winner
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Quiz
Answer key
1. One of the award results 2. Three times 3. False
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The Ballon d'Or awards ceremony brought mixed _____ this year.
Some overseas fans strongly _____ one of the award decisions.
One comment called it "the biggest _____ in history."
Putellas won the best women's player _____.
This marked her third win in four _____.
Luis de la Fuente was named the best men's _____.
Mana Matsukubo, aged 22, was also _____ at the ceremony.
She plays for Japan's women's national team, known as _____ Japan.
Matsukubo was seen in a close photo with England striker Harry _____.
The results sparked lively _____ among fans worldwide.
Discussion questions
- Why do award ceremonies like the Ballon d'Or often create strong opinions among fans?
- Do you think it is fair for fans to criticise award decisions so harshly? Why or why not?
- What makes an athlete deserve to win an individual award like this?
- Have you ever disagreed with the results of a famous awards show? What happened?
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