Aitana Bonmati has etched her name in football history by securing her third consecutive Ballon d'Or Féminin. The Spanish midfielder, who plays for Barcelona, is the first woman to ever win the prestigious award three times. The awards ceremony was held on September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

Bonmati's win marks the fifth year in a row that a Barcelona player has claimed the coveted title, following her own victories in 2023 and 2024 and Alexia Putellas' wins in 2021 and 2022. Before Bonmati and Putellas, only Ada Hegerberg (2018) and Megan Rapinoe (2019) had broken Barcelona's dominance.

In the 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings, Mariona Caldentey, also from Spain and playing for Arsenal, finished second, while Alessia Russo of England and Arsenal came in third. Several other Lionesses were also featured in the top 10, including Chloe Kelly, Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze, and Hannah Hampton. Hampton, who plays goalkeeper for Chelsea, also won the Women's Yashin Trophy. Ewa Pajor of Poland, who plays for Barcelona, won the Women's Gerd Müller Trophy.

Bonmati's stellar performance helped Barcelona secure a domestic treble, winning the Liga F, Copa de la Reina de Futbol, and Supercopa de Espana Femenina. Barcelona scored 128 goals in 30 league matches and won the title with an eight-point lead over Real Madrid. Although Barcelona lost the Women's Champions League final to Arsenal, Bonmati was named UEFA Women's Champions League player of the season.

Despite being diagnosed with viral meningitis shortly before the start of the Women's Euro 2025, Bonmati played a crucial role in Spain's journey to the final and was named player of the tournament.

Bonmati expressed her gratitude to her club, teammates, and staff, acknowledging the collective effort required to achieve such an honor. She emphasized the importance of recognizing the progress being made in women's football and highlighted the impact of the Ballon d'Or in promoting equality within the sport. She also recognized that her generation can be an example for both boys and girls.

Bonmati's rise to the top has been meteoric. In 2023, she had what Nike called "The best season. Of any footballer. Ever.". That year, she won every tournament her teams competed in and was named player of the tournament in each one. She also won the UEFA Women's Player of the Year award and the Ballon d'Or Féminin.

Bonmati's achievements extend beyond club football. She played a starring role in Spain's victory at the 2023 World Cup, where she won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. She also scored the opening goal in the final of the 2023-24 UEFA Women's Nations League, helping Spain secure their second international trophy.

Bonmati's journey to success began at a young age. She played for local clubs before joining Barcelona's youth academy. She has also represented Spain at the youth level, winning two UEFA Women's Youth Championships.