Aitana Bonmati 'still can't believe it' after winning Women's Ballon d'Or for record third year in a row - 'It could have gone to anyone'
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Updated 22/09/2025 at 22:31 GMT+1
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Aitana Bonmati has won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for 2025. The award was announced in a ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday night as the best players of the 2024/25 season for club and country were recognised. It is the third consecutive year that the Spain and Barcelona star has won football’s most illustrious individual prize.
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Video credit: SNTV
Aitana Bonmati won the Ballon d'Or Feminin for a record third consecutive year in Paris on Monday.
In doing so, Bonmati became the first women's player in history to win the award three times since its inauguration in 2018, seeing off competition from Arsenal forwards Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo, who finished second and third respectively.
Bonmati once again played a leading role in Barca's success last season, helping the Catalan side to a domestic treble: the Liga F, Copa de la Reina de Futbol and Supercopa de Espana Femenina.
The midfielder recorded 16 goals and 12 assists in all competitions for Barca last season, and was named the UEFA Women's Champions League player of the season after playing an instrumental role in her side's run to the final, where they were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal in Lisbon.
"My third time in a row here, and I still can't believe it. Incredible," she said on stage at the Theatre du Chatelet.
"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 team-mates, who had a great year."
Bonmati was a vital cog in Barca's imperious attack last season, as they scored 128 goals in just 30 league matches, winning the title with an eight-point gap over Real Madrid and dropping just six points over the course of the season.
Alongside her club success, Bonmati was also a crucial figure for her country, Spain.
Despite her preparations being blighted by a diagnosis of viral meningitis just days before the start of Euro 2025 in Switzerland, she played a seismic role in her side's run to the final, and was named player of the tournament.
Bonmati featured in every match of the summer competition, making some vital contributions, and scored the winner in the 1-0 semi-final victory over Germany.
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She also provided an assist for Athenea del Castillo to score Spain's opening goal in the 2-0 quarter-final victory over Switzerland, but their tournament ultimately ended with a penalty shoot-out defeat to England.
"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," Bonmati added.
"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 team-mates. For awards like this, we don't achieve them alone. It's thanks to the collective work of the team. I owe Barcelona everything, this is the club of my life. I hope to represent this badge for many more years."
By winning the Ballon d'Or on Monday, Bonmati ensured the trophy would go to a Spanish Barcelona midfielder for the fifth year in succession. She won the 2024 and 2023 editions, while team-mate and compatriot Alexia Putellas scooped the trophies in 2022 and 2021.
Ballon d'Or Feminin top 10 in full
1. Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona, Spain)
2. Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal, Spain)
3. Alessia Russo (Arsenal, England)
4. Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, Spain)
5. Chloe Kelly (Arsenal, England)
6. Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona, Spain)
7. Leah Williamson (Arsenal, England)
8. Ewa Pajor (Barcelona, Poland)
9. Lucy Bronze (Chelsea, England)
10. Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England)
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