<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/aitana-bonmati/">Aitana Bonmatí</a> has taken the women’s soccer scene by storm over the past few years, becoming one of the most important and decisive players for both FC Barcelona and Spain’s national team. The midfielder has now made history again by winning the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or, joining an exclusive club alongside <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a> and a French legend.



With the UEFA Women’s Champions League final featuring Barcelona vs. Arsenal, and the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 final between Spain and England, the top 10 nominees were dominated by players from these two nations. As the rankings were revealed, Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey emerged as the frontrunners, with legend Andrés Iniesta announcing Bonmatí as the winner.



With this crowning, Aitana Bonmatí becomes only the third player in soccer history to win the Ballon d’Or three consecutive years. The feat was previously achieved by just two players: <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/france/">France</a> legend Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985) and Lionel Messi (2009, 2010, 2011).



France Football has been awarding the Ballon d’Or to women’s soccer players since 2018, while the men’s award has a much longer history, dating back to 1956 with Stanley Matthews as the first winner. Despite the shorter history for women, Bonmatí’s impact on the current game underscores her consistency and elite level at just 27 years old.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250922_WST_592305_lionel-messi-ballon-dor-1-1200x675_f1fa8dd2.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Lionel Messi of Barcelona receives the FIFA Ballon d&apos;Or 2011 trophy on January 9, 2012 in Zurich, Switzerland." class="wp-image-592375" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Lionel Messi of Barcelona receives the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2011 trophy on January 9, 2012 in Zurich, Switzerland.</figcaption></figure>



With the 2025 award, Bonmatí also becomes the woman with the most <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ballon-dor/">Ballon d’Or</a> awards in history, surpassing her Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas, who won in 2021 and 2022. She now sits at the top of the women’s game, much like Messi does in the men’s game with his eight awards.


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<h2>Bonmatí reacts to third consecutive Ballon d’Or</h2>



Despite not winning the WUCL or the Women’s EURO, Bonmatí was still widely regarded as one of the top contenders. The midfielder admitted that the 2025 edition was particularly competitive.



On stage, the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/barcelona/">Barcelona</a> star had to improvise her speech. “Third time in a row and I don’t really know what else to say, the theater is truly impressive. Thanks to France Football. This could have gone to any of you, and if I could share it, I would. It’s been a great year of a very high level, and the teammates here also deserve it,” the Spanish midfielder highlighted.



After thanking her idols for what she’s learned from them, including Iniesta, she concluded by acknowledging her close ones: “It’s great that the awards have been made equal, we’ve managed to keep moving things forward. To Barca, my club, to Joan Laporta, to the staff who fight every day to make us better — all of this is thanks to their work. Finally, I can’t forget my people, my friends, Cristian Martín, my hometown of Ribes… Thank you.”

FC Barcelona star Aitana Bonmatí joins exclusive club with Lionel Messi and France legend after 2025 Ballon d’Or win

FC Barcelona star Aitana Bonmatí joins exclusive club with Lionel Messi and France legend after 2025 Ballon d’Or win - World Soccer Talk

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The 2024 Ballon d’Or Ceremony crowned Barcelona as the best women’s club in the world for the second year in a row. Additionally, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a> sensation Aitana Bonmatí claimed her second Ballon d’Or Femenin. Regardless of what one may have thought of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/rodri-ballon-dor-win-shows-all-that-is-wrong-with-modern-award/">men’s Ballon d’Or controversy</a>, Bonmatí was a deserving recipient for the second year. On the men’s side, Barcelona claimed the Kopa Trophy, with 17-year-old Lamine Yamal winning the award as the best player under the age of 21. It was a proud night for FC Barcelona, and it was one that shows that Barcelona is unmatched in its combined dominance of its men’s and women’s teams.



In total fairness, FC Barcelona Femení has carried the weight when it comes to winning trophies in recent seasons. Last season, the Barcelona men did not win any trophies, but they did win the 2022/23 LaLiga campaign under Xavi. By comparison, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/unrivaled-dominance-of-the-barcelona-womens-team-20230424-WST-426357.html">Barcelona has dominated women’s soccer</a> over the last five years. In that span, Barcelona won Liga F five times, Copa de la Reina four times, Supercopa de España Femenina four times, UEFA Women’s Champions League three times, and appeared in another UWCL Final. It is an unprecedented run of form for a women’s soccer team in Spain.



On either the men’s or women’s side, dominance is not uncommon. For the men, Real Madrid seems to have no issue in winning the UEFA Champions League. The Spanish side has won five of the last nine Champions League crowns. Likewise, Lyon won the UEFA Women’s Champions League eight times in 12 years. It remains the most successful women’s team in history in that competition. However, in both the cases of Real Madrid and Lyon, their relative women’s or men’s teams have struggled in comparison. That allows Barcelona to stand out.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20241029_WST_537815_Aitana-Bonmati-Ballon-dOr-1200x675_e0b653cf.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-537858" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Aitana-Bonmati-Ballon-dOr-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Aitana-Bonmati-Ballon-dOr-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Aitana-Bonmati-Ballon-dOr-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Aitana-Bonmati-Ballon-dOr-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Aitana-Bonmati-Ballon-dOr-740x416.jpg 740w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Aitana-Bonmati-Ballon-dOr-490x275.jpg 490w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Aitana-Bonmati-Ballon-dOr-250x140.jpg 250w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Aitana-Bonmati-Ballon-dOr.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Ballon d’Or festivities top off form for Barcelona in all competitions </h2>



The Ballon d’Or Ceremony was perhaps a crowning moment for Barcelona. It gave the club firm recognition for how well it has performed in the last calendar year. Some of that is individual, as seen with Lamine Yamal’s Kopa Trophy and Bonmatí’s Ballon d’Or Femenin. Yet, the timing of the award ceremony comes when Barcelona is unofficially on top of Europe. 



The Barcelona men’s team had its best week in recent memory. It defeated Sevilla and Real Madrid in convincing fashion in LaLiga play. In between, Barcelona dumped Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, 4-1. For many supporters, it was three performances that looked like the Barcelona of old. Likewise, the women’s team has, as usual, been in unbelievable form. Shaking off an early loss to Manchester City in the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage, Barcelona has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLfkcSM4SrI" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thrashed every team</a> it has come up against. The women’s team will have two massive fixtures once the calendar turns to November, with back-to-back trips to Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. 



While it was a great night for Barcelona in Paris for the awards, the club must be measured in its reaction. What Barcelona is doing with the women’s team is unprecedented in part because of the infancy of women’s soccer as a whole. Real Madrid only incorporated its women’s team in 2020. Over time, Los Blancos will continue to grow, as will the English women’s teams that have regularly challenged Barcelona in the Champions League.



By the same accord, Barcelona must start producing tangible success with such promise. Lamine Yamal is already one of the best players in the world. At least that is per Ballon d’Or voters. They ranked the teenager eighth in the world ahead of players like Harry Kane, Phil Foden and Florian Wirtz. While Barcelona looked strong this past week in those challenging fixtures, the club needs sustained success from the men’s team. A strong start to the club’s LaLiga and Champions League campaign helps in that regard.



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Barcelona in unparalled position with men's and women's strength

The 2024 Ballon d'Or Ceremony crowned Barcelona as the best women's club in the world for the second year in a row.

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FC Barcelona star Aitana Bonmatí joins exclusive club with Lionel Messi and France legend after 2025 Ballon d’Or win

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Barcelona in unparalled position with men's and women's strength