Aitana Bonmati Wins 2023 Ballon d'Or Feminin After Stunning Season For Barcelona And Spain
Aitana Bonmati won the 2023 Ballon d'Or Feminin award on Monday night.
She was presented with the award by tennis legend Novak Djokovic.
The prize was recognition for a stunning 12 months with Barcelona and the Spain national team.
Chelsea and Australia forward Sam Kerr came second in the vote. Salma Paralluelo - one of Bonmati's Barcelona and Spain co-stars - was third.
Fridolina Rolfo and Mary Earps placed fourth and fifth respectively.
Midfielder Bonmati played a key role as Barcelona won the Liga F and Women's Champions League double last season.
She scored 19 goals in 37 games during Barca's double-winning campaign.
The 25-year-old was then voted as the Player of the Tournament at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Bonmati netted three goals and provided two assists in seven games of Spain's triumphant run.
Speaking after receiving her award, Bonmati said: "I'm very proud to win this Ballon d'Or tonight.
"It's an individual prize but football is a team sport, so I'd like to extend this prize to my teammates and staff at Barcelona, and my international teammates as well. I wouldn't be here without them."
Aitana Bonmati pictured at the 2023 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony in Paris
IMAGO/PA Images/Adam Davy
The Ballon d'Or Feminin has now been won by a player representing Spain and Barcelona in each of the last three years.
Bonmati's success came after Alexia Putellas had received the award in 2021 and 2022.
Putellas played just six games for Barcelona last season due to an ACL injury but she featured as a substitute in the finals of both the Champions League and World Cup.
