Spanish playmaker Aitana Bonmatí made history on Monday night by winning her third consecutive Ballon d’Or, finishing ahead of Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo.
A season defined by individual brilliance
At 27, Aitana Bonmatí has cemented her status as a global reference in women’s football. Despite suffering from meningitis before the Euros, the Catalan midfielder shone throughout the tournament, leading Spain all the way to the final — narrowly lost to England. Named the tournament’s best player, she also earned the title of Best Player in the Champions League, where Barcelona fell to Arsenal. Altogether, she recorded 20 goals and 16 assists across all competitions, asserting herself as the conductor of both La Roja and her club.
A historic hat-trick for Bonmatí
With this third title, following her victories in 2023 and 2024, Bonmatí becomes the first player ever to win the Ballon d’Or three times. She surpasses her teammate Alexia Putellas, a two-time winner who finished fourth this year.
Arsenal’s Spanish forward Mariona Caldentey took second place, ahead of her English teammate Alessia Russo. Among the French players, Chelsea’s Sandy Baltimore ranked 15th, while Clara Mateo — top scorer in the French league — finished 27th out of 30 finalists.