When Barcelona won the Women’s Champions League for the first time in 2021, as part of an incredible treble, Aitana Bonmati was outstanding, even named Player of the Match in the final. Yet, when the Ballon d’Or nominees for that year were announced, she was inexplicably missing from the 20-player shortlist.
Anyone who has watched, played alongside or had the tricky task of trying to thwart Bonmati knows that she has been one of the best players in the world for several years now. Indeed, she has played an integral part in Barcelona overtaking eight-time European champions Lyon as the team to beat in the women’s game.
Sadly, though, there haven’t been too many individual accolades added to a trophy cabinet bursting with team triumphs – until this year. After helping Barca claim another treble, her role in Spain’s historic Women’s World Cup win made her case impossible to ignore.
On Monday, Bonmati was officially crowned the best player on the planet when she won the 2023 Ballon d’Or Feminin - and it’s about damn time she got that spotlight!