The Ballon d’Or is always a fiercely contested award, and Monday evening in Paris was no exception, with Barcelona emerging as big winners across multiple categories.
The standout winner was Aitana Bonmatí, who claimed the main prize in the women’s category for the third time, beating her Barcelona and Spanish teammates to cement her dominance in women’s football.
By her own admission, this was not one of Bonmatí’s best seasons, yet she remained the driving force for both Barcelona and Spain across two highly successful campaigns. She scored 12 goals and provided six assists in another dominant Liga F season, adding two more domestic trophies to her collection.
Her only disappointment came in the Champions League and the European Championships, where she was bested by an England team and Arsenal, with their players also in contention for the award.
One of those favorites, Alessia Russo, who had been on the opposite side of Bonmatí’s disappointment, finished third, while Mariona Caldentey claimed the runner-up spot. The top 10 was dominated by Barcelona Femení players, with Alexia Putellas, Patricia Guijarro, and Ewa Pajor also making the top 10 list.
Deserved winner as star misses out in male category
Ousmane Dembélé has claimed the Ballon d’Or, edging out Lamine Yamal in a hotly tipped contest. Both stars enjoyed stellar seasons, sparking debate over who truly deserved the accolade before the announcement.
The Frenchman, formerly of Barcelona, scored 35 goals across all competitions, helping Paris Saint-Germain secure their first Champions League title and finish as runners-up in the Club World Cup.
Lamine Yamal finished second, while many Barcelona fans were left stunned as Raphinha placed fifth, behind Vitinha and Mohamed Salah. Even more surprising were Pedri in 11th and Robert Lewandowski in 17th, trailing Vinícius Jr, results that left many questioning the rankings.
Meanwhile, the Kopa Trophy went to Yamal and Vicky López, highlighting the club’s emerging young talent, while former coach Luis Enrique, deserves a nod after he received recognition as Coach of the Year.
These individual awards underscore Barcelona’s continued dominance and their quest for European glory. With Yamal’s talent on full display, there’s little doubt that he could be crowned the world’s best next year, echoing the number 10 in a Barcelona shirt from the best years.