The Ballon d’Or and Women’s Football
The Ballon d’Or, recognized as one of football’s highest honors, has recently highlighted remarkable achievements within women’s football, particularly by Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati and Vicky López. In a celebratory ceremony held at the esteemed Théâtre du Châtelet for the 2025 awards, the Barcelona women’s team shone brightly, collecting the coveted title of Ballon d’Or, the first ever Kopa Trophy recognizing the best under-21 player, and the Gerd Müller Trophy, awarded to the leading goal scorer.
Aitana Bonmati’s Historic Achievement
Aitana Bonmati, the skilled midfielder who stands at just 5-foot-4, outshined fellow nominees Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo to secure her third consecutive Ballon d’Or, marking a historic milestone as the first woman ever to achieve this honor thrice. Despite Barcelona not clinching the UEFA Women’s Champions League title after a narrow loss to Arsenal, Bonmati’s stellar performance contributed significantly to her team’s domestic success, where they claimed a treble. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in guiding Spain to their inaugural Women’s Euros final, even though they were defeated by England.
Bonmati’s technical prowess on the pitch is well-documented; she is known for her remarkable ball control, vision, and strategic playmaking abilities, which have greatly influenced Barcelona’s attacking initiatives. Last season, she was named the leader in chance creation in Liga F (68 chances) and the UEFA Women’s Champions League (31 chances), illustrating her essential role in the team. Throughout the season, she recorded an impressive 12 goals and six assists, continuing her streak of contributing over 15 goals across three seasons. Moreover, her ability to recover the ball, ranking fifth in the UWCL with 63 recoveries, underscores her relentless work ethic off the ball.
Vicky López’s Rising Star
Meanwhile, her teammate Vicky López, who won the inaugural Kopa Trophy, has been making waves during her promising career. At just 19, López became the youngest player to debut for Barcelona in the professional era and has since established herself as a crucial player for the team. Noteworthy is her season progression in scoring; she went from two goals in the 2022-2023 season to ten in 2024-2025, making her the U21 player with the highest goal tally. Her versatility on the field allows her to seamlessly transition between midfield and wide positions, maintaining a high quality of play. In the recently concluded Euro 2025 tournament, she made significant contributions during the group stages, showcasing her potential on an international level as well.
Not only has she demonstrated her talent as a dribbler and a playmaker, evidenced by her 74 progressive carries last season, but her growth trajectory is commendable as she also secured the Golden Girl award as the best young player in Europe prior to winning the Kopa Trophy. This consistent upward trend suggests that López is on a path to becoming a key figure in women’s football in the years to come.
Inspiration for Future Generations
Both Bonmati and López exemplify what it means to excel at the highest level in football, paving the way for future generations of female athletes. Their achievements serve as inspiration and highlight the increasing prominence of women’s football in global sports.
