Aitana Bonmati’s Remarkable Triumph in the 2025 Ballon d’Or Feminin Race
It’s truly astonishing how Ballon d’Or Feminin 2025 winner Aitana Bonmati overcame a serious health setback to deliver an outstanding performance on the global stage. After battling viral meningitis right before Spain‘s trip to Switzerland, her quick recovery and exceptional play left fans in awe. Although her 2024-25 season included disappointing losses in the Champions League final against Arsenal and the Euro 2025 final versus England-denying her some coveted trophies-she still claimed her third consecutive Ballon d’Or, placing her alongside legends like Lionel Messi and Michel Platini as one of the rare athletes to achieve this feat.
Sharing the spotlight on the podium were two stars from Arsenal’s victorious Champions League squad. Mariona Caldentey, a former Barcelona stalwart who transitioned to north London last year, secured second place with her pivotal role in Arsenal’s historic European victory during her debut season there. Rounding out the top three was Alessia Russo, who not only celebrated a club championship in Europe but also contributed crucially for England, scoring a vital goal in the Euro 2025 clash against Spain that kept the Lionesses in contention, ultimately triumphing via penalties and dashing the hopes of Bonmati and Caldentey.
While these three dominated the 2025 rankings, the full 30-player shortlist revealed a mix of talent and surprises once the votes were tallied. Dive into the complete official standings below:
