Aitana takes Ballon d'Or again
Aitana Bonmatí continues with her golden run of form. The FC Barcelona midfielder has claimed the Ballon d'Or prize for the second year in a row, placing the award for 2024 alongside the one she won last year for 2023. Once again Barça Women provide the winner for the honour bestowed upon the best player in the world.
The Barça number 14 continues to make history with FC Barcelona. For the second time in the history of the award, an FC Barcelona player takes the prize for the second season in a row, following on from her teammate Alexia Putellas' successes in 2021 and 2022.
"You don't do this alone"
On collecting the prize from actress Natalie Portman, she naturally thanked the Barça supporters and also said, "I am very lucky to have so many players around me to keep me developing and growing as a player. Without the staff I would never have achieved this success. And thank you to Joan Laporta and the Board of Directors for everything you do ... I am here to keep battling for a much longer time."
The last 4 Ballons d'Or blaugrana
Barça Women have now provided the winner of the award for the last four seasons thanks to the performances of first Alexia and then Aitana Bonmatí. Of the six female Ballons d'Or, FC Barcelona have only failed to win in 2018 (Ada Hegerberg) and 2019 (Megan Rapinoe).
The individual performances that have led to the Ballon d'Or have come during a time of great collective success. In 2023/24, the Barça Women squad claimed the Spanish Super Cup, the league, the Copa de la Reina and the Champions League with Aitana leading the way. In 41 games, the midfielder scored 19 goals, one of which came in the Champions League final at San Mamés in the win over Lyon, and provided 18 assists.
In 2024/25 so far, Aitana has three goals and three assists in seven games under new coach Pere Romeu. Figures that underline her importance in the Barça Women side and one worthy of a two-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Blaugrana podium
Aitana Bonmatí, Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo made it an FC Barcelona 1-2-3 this evening in Paris. "I want to congratulate Carol, who also deserved to win the Ballon d'Or" said Aitana. "And I thank her for making me a better player and for the connection we have on the right wing."
It's a picture for the archives, and one to be stored alongside that of 2010, when Messi, Iniesta and Xavi swept the men's podium. Now Barça have done it again, but this time by the women.