The Ballon d'Or. Love it or loathe it, it's the award every footballer in the world dreams of one day winning. And now, after a memorable 2024-25 campaign, the winner of the 2025 Women's Golden Ball has been announced: Aitana Bonmati. The Barcelona star was exceptional for her club this past year, her world-class consistency standing out as the Catalans won a domestic treble, while her performances for Spain were enough to make her the Euro 2025 Player of the Tournament.
It's incredible to think that Bonmati's participation in that event was actually in doubt, after she was struck down by viral meningitis just as Spain were set to fly to Switzerland. That she was able to recover and not only play, but play to such an amazing level, is astounding. Her 2024-25 campaign wouldn't end perfectly, with defeats in the Champions League final to Arsenal and the Euro 2025 final to England depriving her of two of the titles she'd have loved to have got her hands on. Her consolation, though, is a third successive Ballon d'Or. She joins Lionel Messi and Michel Platini as the only players ever to win the Golden Ball three years in a row.
Two members of the Arsenal team that defeated Barcelona in that Champions League final joined Bonmati on the podium. In second was Mariona Caldentey, the long-time Barca icon who made the switch to north London last year and helped lead the Gunners to an unprecedented European triumph in her first season. Alessia Russo completed the top three, after not only becoming a champion of Europe with her club this year but also her country, with her goal for England in the Euro 2025 helping to get the Lionesses back into the game against Spain before they eventually broke the hearts of Bonmati and Caldentey on penalties.
That trio were up at the very top of the rankings for 2025, but how did the rest of the 30-player shortlist shake out when all the votes were counted? Check out the official rankings below:
Getty Images30. Caroline Weir (Real Madrid)
After missing almost all of the 2023-24 season due to an ACL injury, Weir came back with a bang this past year, returning to form similar to that which took Spain by storm in her first campaign at Real Madrid. The Scotland international totted up 15 goals and 11 assists across all competitions for Las Blancas, with her brace in the team's first-ever win over Barcelona standing out.
AdvertisementGetty Images29. Steph Catley (Arsenal)
After being moved into a centre-back role by Renee Slegers, who took over at Arsenal back in October, Catley shone for the Gunners in a fantastic season. Usually a left-back, she brought more solidity to a defence that would end up shutting out Barcelona in the Champions League final for Arsenal's first European triumph since 2007.
Getty Images=27. Clara Mateo (Paris FC)
Crowned the Premiere Ligue's Player of the Year at both of France's end of season award ceremonies, Mateo was outstanding for underdogs Paris FC as they shocked Paris Saint-Germain to win the Coupe de France, before also securing a Champions League place. The 27-year-old scored a league-leading 18 goals and also ranked second for assists, with seven.
Getty Images=27. Frida Maanum (Arsenal)
Another important member of Arsenal's Champions League-winning side, Maanum ended the club season with 10 goals and four assists, though those stats don't scratch the surface when it comes to the midfielder's value in the Gunners' XI. She was then a key player for a Norway side that finally reached the knockout stages of the Euros again, scoring twice in the win over Iceland.
