Aitana Bonmati Honored as Fifa Best Women’s Player of the Year

Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati, who has spent her entire career with the club, has been recognized as the women’s player of the year at the Fifa Best Awards for the second consecutive year. Bonmati, aged 26, played a pivotal role in the Spain squad that triumphed in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where she also received the Golden Ball award for the tournament’s outstanding player. She was also presented with the women’s Ballon d’Or in both 2023 and 2024, and achieved Champions League victory with Barcelona in those same successive years. “I am grateful and proud to win this award,” Bonmati stated. She added, “I’m very grateful for this award, but I always say that this is a team effort, with a Barca that won everything and the national team.” Last season, Bonmati secured every available trophy at club level as Barcelona achieved a historic quadruple, clinching Liga F, the Champions League, Supercopa, and Copa de la Reina. Bonmati registered a personal best of 19 goals across all four competitions and was voted ahead of Zambia striker Barbra Banda and her Barcelona teammate Caroline Graham Hansen. The men’s award at the ceremony, held in Qatar, was claimed by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. This year saw the women’s game introduce its version of the Puskas Award for the best goal of the year, designated the Marta Award in honour of the Brazil legend. Marta played in her sixth Olympics this summer. The 38-year-old Marta subsequently won the inaugural Marta Award for her goal against Jamaica in June. The accolade for best women’s goalkeeper was awarded to American Alyssa Naeher, who plays for the Chicago Red Stars. Former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, who spent 12 years at the club before taking on the United States role, was celebrated as the best women’s coach after guiding the United States to a gold medal at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris. Hayes assumed the US position after leading Chelsea to the WSL title last season, marking her fifth consecutive league championship with the club. This marks Hayes’ second time winning the award, having previously won in 2021. She regained the title from England manager Sarina Wiegman, who was the recipient in 2022 and 2023, surpassing Manchester City head coach Gareth Taylor and her Chelsea successor Sonia Bompastor for the honour. England defender Lucy Bronze was named in the Best Fifa women’s XI, a selection predominantly featuring players from Barcelona and Spain. Graham Hansen was included in the forward line, and Naeher was one of three American players selected. Best XI: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago & USA); Lucy Bronze (Chelsea & England), Irene Paredes (Barcelona & Spain), Naomi Girma (San Diego & USA), Ona Batlle (Barcelona & Spain); Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona & Spain), Lindsey Horan (Lyon & USA), Gabi Portilho (Corinthians & Brazil), Patri Guijarro (Barcelona & Spain); Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona & Norway), Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona & Spain)