Aitana named The Best again
Aitana Bonmatí has once again been named the best woman footballer in the world by FIFA, the FC Barcelona midfielder also having been presented with the accolade in the previous two seasons. After recently securing her third straight Ballon d’Or, the Barça number 14 continues to set the standard in women’s football and underlines the club’s dominance at FIFA’s The Best awards.
The Catalan midfielder thus adds another individual honour to an already remarkable career. Her treble of The Best awards, a run unmatched in the history of the women’s game is further recognition of her consistency and influence at the highest level.
Recognition after a challenging year
The years 2023, 2024 and 2025 have all ended with Aitana Bonmatí at the top of world football, although the most recent season has not been without its challenges. Her rhythm in midfield was interrupted by an injury suffered in late November while on international duty with Spain. Even so, she had already made a decisive impact earlier in the campaign, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 15 appearances.
In 2024/25, Bonmatí was again central to Barça’s success. She featured in 44 matches, scoring 15 goals and playing a key role in the team’s domestic treble: the Spanish Super Cup, Liga F and Copa de la Reina. Barça narrowly missed out on the Champions League title, while Aitana also fell short in the European Championship final with Spain, where she was nevertheless named MVP.
Five in a row
Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas have been two of the driving forces behind FC Barcelona’s recent success on the global stage. Putellas won back-to-back The Best titles in 2021 and 2022, before Bonmatí followed with three consecutive awards of her own.
In total, Barça have claimed half of all women’s The Best trophies, more than any other club. That record is strengthened further when the men’s category is included, thanks to Lionel Messi’s win in 2019.
Six in Best XI
Bonmatí’s award, along with Putellas’ continued recognition, reinforces Barça’s status as a global benchmark in women’s football. The club is also strongly represented in FIFA’s Women’s World XI, with six Barça players selected: Ona Batlle and Irene Paredes in defence; Patri Guijarro, Claudia Pina and Aitana Bonmatí in midfield; and Alexia Putellas in attack.
Once again, the World XI reflects the depth of quality and consistency at FC Barcelona, who also placed six players in the team last season.
There's simply no question about it, when it comes to women's football, blaugranes are The Best!