Aitana Bonmati awarded The Best FIFA Women's player of the year, England's Sarina Wiegman named coach of the year

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Aitana Bonmati has been named The Best FIFA Women's player of the year for the third consecutive time at an awards ceremony in Doha. The 27-year-old was a prominent figure in the Barcelona side that won both the Liga F and the Copa de la Reina, while she excelled for Spain as they reached the Euros final. Bonmati won her third Ballon d'Or earlier this year and backs up that feat.

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Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati was named The Best FIFA Women's Player of the Year.
Bonmati, 27, collected her third consecutive award, to go with her three consecutive Ballons d'Or.
Bonmati could not be present to collect the award as she is recovering from a broken leg, which will rule her out of action for five months.
She fractured her left fibula in training ahead of the second leg of the UEFA Women's Nations League final against Germany.
Via a video link from Barcelona, Bonmati told the Doha crowd: "I am grateful to have the award, this is for all the coaches and the fans, so thank you very much and I will enjoy it."
Bonmati has become a crucial part of the great Barcelona team, alongside two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, and they won their sixth consecutive Liga F title and their second straight Copa de la Reina.
What was already an incredible year for Bonmati could have been even better but Spain, after their star midfielder recovered from meningitis just days before the tournament started, were defeated by England in the Euros final.
Bonmati and Barcelona were also beaten in the UEFA Women's Champions League final by Arsenal to prevent them from winning their third European crown in a row.
She beat Spain and Barcelona team-mates Putellas, Claudia Pina and Patri Guijarro to the award as well as club team-mate Ewa Pajor and Spanish colleague Mariona Caldentey.
It is testament to how good Bonmati was in 2025 that she held off Chelsea stars Sandy Baltimore, Nathalie Bjorn, Lucy Bronze and Lauren James after their domestic treble, with Bronze and James also succeeding with England.
In collecting her third triumph, she also beat Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly, with the pair both winning the Champions League with Arsenal and the Euros with England.
Also making up the shortlist were Malawi's Temwa Chawinga and OL Lyonnes trio Kadidiatou Diani, Melchie Dumornay and Lindsey Heaps.

Wiegman announced as The Best FIFA Coach of the Year

England manager Sarina Wiegman was announced as The Best FIFA Coach of the Year.
Wiegman, who coached England to glory in the 2025 Euros, was announced as the winner ahead of Chelsea's Sonia Bompastor, Jonatan Giraldez of Washington Spirit and OL Lyonnes, Orlando Pride's Seb Hines and Champions League winner Renee Slegers of Arsenal.
The 56-year-old said: "Thank you to the FA for their continued support for me and the team.
"This award is actually for players and staff, we've showed so much belief, conviction and togetherness that led us to our second Euros win.
"Moving into 2026 lets keep pushing the women's game forward together."

Hampton crowned The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper

Earlier, Chelsea and England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton won The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award ahead of Tuesday evening’s ceremony.
The 25-year-old enjoyed a hugely successful 2024/25 season for club and country. She started every Women’s Super League match for Chelsea as they won the title without losing a match along the way, and also won the Golden Glove award as she kept 13 clean sheets.
Hampton also won the Yashin Trophy earlier this year at the Ballon d'Or ceremony, with Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma also completing the double of honours.
Hampton was also an integral part of Chelsea's triumph in the League Cup and FA Cup last season, as The Blues completed a remarkable treble.
England manager Sarina Wiegman called Hampton up for England’s successful European Championship defence in the summer, starting every match for the Lionesses as they lifted the trophy with a penalty shoot-out win over Spain in the final.
After being named The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper for 2025, Hampton said: "Thank you very much to everyone who voted. It is greatly appreciated and really means a lot.
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"Thank you to Sarina [Wiegman] and Sonia [Bompastor] for the belief in me this year. With club and country, we have achieved so much and there is still much more for us to go and get.
"To the fans, both club and country, your support doesn’t go unnoticed. We hear you cheering every single game loud and proud, and it helps push us on to go and get the win for you all. So, thank you very much."
The event to name The Best FIFA Women’s Player of the Year takes place in Qatar on Tuesday evening.
There are a number of other Chelsea players nominated for the outright trophy, including Sandy Baltimore of France, Sweden’s Nathalie Bjorn, and England’s Lucy Bronze and Lauren James.
Other England players nominated are Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly of Arsenal, the latter having joined Arsenal permanently in the summer after a loan spell from Manchester City.
World Cup holders Spain boast five nominees, including Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati, Patri Guijarro and Claudia Pina of Barcelona, alongside Mariona Caldentey of Arsenal.

How are the award winners determined?

The voting process for the awards for the FIFA Men's and Women's Player of the Year was divided equally among four groups: men’s national team captains and coaches, women’s national team captains and coaches, media representatives from each member association, and registered fans.
Each group carries the same weight, contributing 25% to the final decision on the winners.

The Best FIFA Women’s Player of the Year shortlist

  • Sandy Baltimore (France and Chelsea)
  • Nathalie Bjorn (Sweden and Chelsea)
  • Aitana Bonmati (Spain and Barcelona)
  • Lucy Bronze (England and Chelsea)
  • Mariona Caldentey (Spain and Arsenal)
  • Temwa Chawinga (Malawi and Kansas City Current)
  • Kadidiatou Diani (France and OL Lyonnes)
  • Melchie Dumornay (Haiti and OL Lyonnes)
  • Patri Guijarro (Spain and Barcelona)
  • Lindsey Heaps (USA and OL Lyonnes)
  • Lauren James (England and Chelsea)
  • Chloe Kelly (England and Manchester City/Arsenal)
  • Ewa Pajor (Poland and Barcelona)
  • Claudia Pina (Spain and Barcelona)
  • Alexia Putellas (Spain and Barcelona)
  • Alessia Russo (England and Arsenal)

FIFA Women's Coach of the Year shortlist

  • Sonia Bompastor (Chelsea)
  • Jonatan Giraldez (Washington Spirit/OL Lyonnes)
  • Seb Hines (Orlando Pride)
  • Renee Slegers (Arsenal)

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