Bonmati makes history as first woman to win Ballon d'Or three times

Aitana Bonmati of Spain and Barcelona has become the first player to win the Ballon d'Or Feminin three times, capturing a historic milestone that underscores her influence on the women's game. The 27-year-old added a third individual prize to her collection after winning in 2023 and 2024, cementing her status as one of the sport's defining figures of the era. Her international teammate, Arsenal winger Mariona Caldentey, finished in second place, a testament to Spain's strong year at the ballot.

Bonmati's triumph came as the Ballon d'Or Feminin gathered elite players from across Europe for its annual ceremony, recognizing the best footballer of the year as voted by a panel of journalists. The top 10 featured five England players, led by Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Leah Williamson who finished third, fifth and seventh respectively. Chelsea’s Lucy Bronze and Hannah Hampton completed the top 10 in ninth and 10th. The vote highlighted the depth of talent across clubs in Spain, England and beyond, and it capped a season in which Barcelona again produced a strong cohort of award contenders.

The award, officially known as the Ballon d'Or Feminin, recognizes the best footballer of the year and is decided by journalists who cover the women's game. The result also reinforced Barcelona's dominance in the early 2020s, with a Ballon d'Or winner from the club in each of the last five years following Alexia Putellas’s back-to-back wins in 2021 and 2022 and Bonmati's 2023–25 era of success.

Bonmati enjoyed a remarkable 2024-25 season with Barcelona, contributing 12 league goals and six assists as the team once again finished well clear at the top of La Liga. Although Barcelona did not retain the Champions League title, losing in the final to Arsenal, Bonmati was named UEFA Women’s Player of the Season after nine goal contributions across 11 appearances in the competition. Her form in domestic and continental play underscored why she was a perennial finalist for the Ballon d'Or Feminin, and her club's continuing success provided a broader context for her individual award.

Her year with Spain also stood out for dramatic personal resilience. In the build-up to the Euro 2025 campaign, Bonmati battled meningitis and spent time in hospital just days before the tournament began. She recovered in time to play a pivotal role as Spain reached the semi-finals, scoring the winner in the semifinal against Germany in a match that elevated her status as a clutch performer. Although Spain ultimately fell to England in the final on penalties, the performance during the tournament was widely lauded as a defining moment in Bonmati’s career. Former England midfielder Fara Williams, speaking on BBC One, noted that Bonmati has long been capable of delivering decisive moments when it matters most.

The narrative of the Ballon d'Or Feminin ceremony also highlighted the strength of English players in the year’s awards. In addition to the top-10 finishers, the night underscored the depth of talent across the Lionesses, with manager Sarina Wiegman receiving the women’s coach award and Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton being named the best women’s goalkeeper. The emphasis on managerial and positional awards alongside the player prize reflected a broader view of contribution to the sport across clubs and the national team structure.

The top 10 in the Ballon d'Or Feminin this year featured Bonmati in first place, Caldentey in second, Russo in third, Putellas in fourth, Kelly in fifth, Guijarro in sixth, Williamson in seventh, Pajor in eighth, Bronze in ninth and Hampton in 10th. Beyond the top tier, the standings included notable names such as Sandy Baltimore in 15th, Pernille Harder in 20th, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd in 23rd, Emily Fox in 25th, Frida Maanum in 27th, Steph Catley in 29th and Caroline Weir in 30th, illustrating the broad reach of the Ballon d'Or Feminin across leagues and nations. The result reinforces Barcelona’s tradition of producing multiple Ballon d'Or winners over the past several years and highlights the continued rise of Spain’s women’s game on the world stage.