Ballon d’Or 2025: England’s Lionesses shine as Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí makes football history
Leah Williamson wears the rainbow captain band on the pitch. (Aitor Alcalde/Getty)
Leah Williamson wears the rainbow captain band on the pitch. (Aitor Alcalde/Getty)
Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí made history by becoming the first footballer to win the women’s Ballon d’Or three times, while England’s Lionesses were also recognised at the awards ceremony on Monday (22 September) night.
The women’s Ballon d’Or, officially known as Ballon d’Or Féminin and held at the Theatre Théâtre du Châtelet, in Paris, recognises the best female footballer of the year, as voted for by a panel of journalists.
Bonmatí won the top award for the third consecutive year but not before the Lionesses threatened to dominate proceedings. Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, Leah Williamson and Lucy Bronze all finished in the top 10, as did Hannah Hampton who also picked up the inaugural women’s Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper after helping England secure their second consecutive Euros title and Chelsea win a domestic treble.
The award is named after former Soviet Union keeper Lev Yashin, regarded by many as one of the greatest of all time.
During her acceptance speech, Hampton said she stood “on the shoulders of so many great goalkeepers,” adding: “Sitting alongside my fellow nominees, I’m proud to be a part of such an incredible group and inspiring future generations of goalkeepers coming through and training so hard.”
Hampton also paid tribute to former Liverpool women’s manager Matt Beard who died on Saturday (20 September), at the age of 47.
“The women’s game sadly lost a real trailblazer” she said. “He lit up the room when everyone was in it. And this is just a message to show that not everyone should have to go through these dark moments alone. Sometimes the brightest smiles in the room hide the heaviest pain. He’ll be greatly missed.”
Not to be outdone by her players, England boss Sarina Wiegman won the Johan Cruyff trophy for female coach of the year, and used her speech to call on the sport to be “a place where everyone belongs”, urging football to fight “together against misogyny and racism” because “sport should always unite and never divide”.
Weigman went on to say: “This is not just a personal honour, I see it as a recognition of the women’s game, of our journey and where we have come so far.”
London club Arsenal, where many of the several Lionesses ply their trade, were crowned women’s club of the year.
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