Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati has won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third year in a row, beating Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo to the top prize.
Even though Spain lost out to England in the Euro 2025 final and Barcelona were beaten by Arsenal in the Champions League final, Bonmati’s quality shone through and the 27-year-old was named the best player at the Euros and in the Champions League last season.
The midfielder keeps the women’s Ballon d’Or at Barcelona for the fifth year in a row, following two wins for Alexia Putellas and now a third consecutive triumph for her. Bonmati is the first player to win the award three times since it was created in 2018.
Bonmati’s Spain team-mate Caldentey, who helped Arsenal win the Champions League in her first season at the Gunners, was second and Russo was third after winning European titles at club and country last season.
There were five Lionesses players in the top-10, with Chloe Kelly fifth, Leah Williamson seventh, Lucy Bronze ninth and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who won the Yashin trophy, in 10th position.
Bonmati joined Lionel Messi and Michel Platini as the only players to have won the Ballon d’Or in three consecutive years, and received the trophy from one of her idols, the former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andreas Iniesta.
"It's incredible this feeling. I never thought when I was a kid that I could achieve this because I didn't think women's football can exist," Bonmati said.
"I had idols like Andres Iniesta and Xavi and when I was a kid I only saw them on TV. It's incredible to be here and make history.
"But all of these trophies are because of collective work. We had a difficult season because we won some trophies, but we also lost some to amazing footballers."
“My third time in a row here, and I still can't believe it. Incredible,” Bonmati said. “Thank you to France Football for this, for the third time, it really could have gone to anyone. If it was possible to share it, I would, because I think it has been a year with an exceptionally high level, above all among my teammates, who had a great year.
"Also to receive it from the hands of Andres Iniesta, one of my idols since I was little, alongside Xavi. I learned my football from them, to this day I thank them for all that they have taught me. Thank you to them for everything that they have done in football.
"Also thank you to the organisation, for improving things year on year. This year we have the same awards as the men, which I welcome, that is what we have worked towards for a long time.
"To my club Barcelona, the president, the board, the staff and my teammates. For awards like this, we don't achieve them along. It's thanks to the collective work of the team. We couldn't win the Champions League this year but we went to the final and it's football, it's not always about winning or losing.”
