Aitana Bonmati wins the 2023 Ballon d'Or Feminin

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati has won the 2023 Ballon d’Or Feminin, beating a host of Lionesses stars to the coveted award.

Bonmati enjoyed a wonderful 2022/23 season, winning Liga F and the Champions League with Barca before playing a pivotal role in Spain’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand during the summer.

It is the 25-year-old’s first ever Ballon d’Or award and comes after club and international teammate Alexia Putellas scooped the gong in consecutive years in 2021 and 2022. Bonmati was also named UEFA’s Women’s Player of the Year back in August.

While Barca won Liga F and finished ten points ahead of closest competitors Real Madrid, the Catalan giants had to recover from a 2-0 deficit against Wolfsburg in the final to win the Champions League for the second time in the club’s history.

Spain’s World Cup triumph also came against the odds with the backdrop of a player dispute but was heavily marred by former RFEF Luis Rubiales, who kissed striker Jenni Hermoso on the lips in the aftermath of the nation’s win over England in the final. He has since been banned from all football-related activities for three years.

Bonmati was one of six Spaniards nominated for the award alongside Olga Carmona, Patricia Guijarro, Mapi Leon, Salma Paralluelo and Alba Redondo and also one of six Barca players put forward.

Her victory saw Bonmati beat England stars Rachel Daly, Millie Bright, Mary Earps and Georgia Stanway to the prize. None were present at the ceremony in Paris with round four of the Women’s Nations League group stage taking place on Tuesday.