By: Kwame Bediako
Barcelona Femení star Aitana Bonmatí has become the first player ever to win the Ballon d’Or Féminin three times, securing her latest victory. The Spanish midfielder previously claimed the prestigious award twice, following dominant performances with Barcelona and the Spain national team.
Her hat-trick of wins places her in rare company, alongside Lionel Messi and Michel Platini, who are the only players to have won three Ballon d’Or titles consecutively. Bonmatí’s third win was expected given her status as the defending champion, though this season she did not receive quite the overwhelming acclaim she had in previous years.
While Barcelona continued their domestic supremacy by securing three major trophies in Spain, the Catalan side dropped two league games this season an unusually high number compared to the past five years, signaling emerging challenges.
After spending two years as the clear leader on both club and country fronts especially while teammate and fellow Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas recovered from an ACL tear Bonmatí recently shifted into a new dynamic playing alongside Putellas.
This adjustment saw both players continue impressive form, each registering double digits in goals and assists as Barcelona reached their fifth consecutive Champions League final.
Despite their continued dominance, Bonmatí and Barcelona were denied a third straight Champions League title when Arsenal edged a tight 1–0 victory in Lisbon.
The disciplined performance from the English side marked a significant challenge to Barcelona’s continental reign and highlighted the growing competitiveness of women’s football at the highest level.
Bonmatí’s historic third Ballon d’Or Féminin win celebrates her extraordinary talent and contribution to football, even as the landscape of the women’s game evolves and intensifies. Her milestone cements her legacy as one of the sport’s greatest midfielders and a key figure in Barcelona and Spain’s continued success.
