Aitana Bonmatí's Historic Ballon d'Or Victory Exposes Shocking Voting Secrets
The most prominent figure in women's football continues to shine even brighter.
On Monday evening in Paris, France, FC Barcelona and Spain's central midfielder Aitana Bonmatí claimed the 2025 Ballon d'Or Féminin. This marked the 27-year-old's third straight victory as the world's top women's footballer, making her the first female player to secure the honor three times since the women's category began in 2018.
But what led to Bonmatí's 2025 Ballon d'Or triumph?
First, let's examine the voting process. The initial 30-candidate shortlist is assembled by France Football, working alongside a chosen group of former players and its partner publication, L'Équipe. This selection considers player performances from Aug. 10, 2024, through Aug. 2, 2025.
Subsequently, one designated journalist from each of the top 50 FIFA-ranked women's nations worldwide submits their ballot ranking the top 10 performers from the 30-nominee pool.
These 50 journalists' 10-player rankings are scored in declining order. The first-place selection receives 15 points, followed by 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, and finally 1 point. These rankings should consider individual displays, character, team results and accomplishments, plus sportsmanship and fair play.
Therefore, the Ballon d'Or winner is determined by whoever accumulates the highest total points from all ballots.
Many observers have highlighted that this voting structure favors European players. Indeed, 28 of the top 50 FIFA-ranked women's nations are European. Additionally, the Ballon d'Or evaluation period follows the European autumn-spring football season.
This timing disadvantages players from other continents, such as NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga, who compete on different seasonal schedules. Meanwhile, more than half the voting journalists operate in various time zones, possibly lacking broadcast access to watch their matches.
Examining the final standings of the 30 women's Ballon d'Or candidates, no players from outside Europe appeared in the top 10, with only four non-European or non-European-based players in the entire top 30 (Marta, 12th; Barbra Banda, 14th; Chawinga, 17th; and Amanda Gutierres, 21st).
When applying this voting system to Bonmatí, it's evident why one of Europe's most accomplished players at the continent's premier clubs would prevail. Bonmatí represents Barcelona and Spain, teams that reached the UEFA Women's Champions League 2024–25 final, the UEFA Nations League 2025 final, and the Women's Euro 2025 final. Barcelona also secured the Spanish league, Liga F, and cup double.
Some might question how a Spain and Barcelona player defeated competitors from Arsenal and England, who won the UEFA Women's Champions League and Women's Euro, respectively.
Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey, representing Spain, and England's Alessia Russo finished second and third, respectively. However, given Arsenal's runner-up position in the English Women's Super League, there's justification for moderating some team performance points that Caldentey and Russo might have earned.
Bonmatí's Ballon d'Or victory demonstrates that losing finals, as Barcelona and Spain experienced, doesn't determine an entire campaign. Even though Bonmatí struggled in those close defeats in the UEFA Women's Champions League and Women's Euro, where she missed her penalty in the shootout against England, voters still considered most of her performances deserving.
What potentially increases Bonmatí's voting support is her established stardom and recognition. Having already claimed the Ballon d'Or twice, her excellence and caliber are unquestionable, and many voters likely felt confident including her in their top 10s compared to lesser-known players like Caldentey or Russo.
It's also apparent that individual statistics alone have limitations. Barcelona and Poland striker Ewa Pajor, who placed eighth in Ballon d'Or voting, netted more goals than any other candidate. While Bonmatí recorded more combined goals and assists than Caldentey and Russo, she didn't surpass Pajor or her Barcelona and Spain colleague, Alexia Putellas.
Another factor influencing voters could be decisive moments. This is evident with Arsenal and England's Chloe Kelly, who finished fifth despite not starting any Women's Euro matches and beginning only 12 of 26 Arsenal games. However, Kelly's game-changing ability in crucial moments clearly resonated with voters.
Bonmatí also possesses these pivotal moments in her portfolio. During one of Spain's most challenging Women's Euro 2025 matches, the semifinal against Germany deadlocked at 0–0, Bonmatí scored the decisive goal with one of the year's most daring and technically brilliant finishes. With body movement suggesting a cross, she fired a rocket-like shot into a tiny gap at the near post.
Naturally, the counter-perspective is that both Caldentey and Russo found the net in the Women's Euro final, though neither goal carried quite the same weight and mystique.
It's evident that while Bonmatí enjoyed an outstanding season, performing exceptionally but perhaps not at her peak compared to the previous two campaigns, no clear challenger emerged to claim her throne.
And so, perhaps Bonmatí earned her third consecutive world's best player title due to her aura. The intangible sense of greatness that Bonmatí projects likely served as the deciding factor in what was probably a very tight voting contest.
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