Aitana Bonmati wins Women’s Ballon d’Or third time in row

Barcelona and Spain's Aitana Bonmati claimed the Women's Ballon d'Or at a ceremony held in Paris on Monday, marking her third consecutive win of the award.

Bonmati surpassed her fellow teammate Mariona Caldentey, who was part of the Spain team that lost to England in a penalty shootout in the Women’s Euro 2025 final last July.

The midfielder, aged 27, also experienced defeat in the Women’s Champions League final last season with her club, facing Caldentey’s Arsenal.

Bonmati was awarded player of the tournament at the Euros, despite not being in the starting lineup for Spain’s initial two games as she was recuperating from viral meningitis.

Alessia Russo, a nominee from the victorious England European Championship squad, secured third place.

The Ballon d'Or is recognized as the top individual accolade in football for both genders, and Bonmati's streak of three consecutive awards follows the back-to-back wins of her Barcelona and Spain teammate Alexia Putellas.

Since the award's inception in 2018, Ada Hegerberg from Norway and Megan Rapinoe from the USA are the only other players to have won the Women’s Ballon d'Or.