Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati has been named the women’s player of the year at the Fifa Best Awards for the second year in a row.
Bonmati, 26, was a key part of the Spain team that won the 2023 Women’s World Cup and won the Golden Ball award for the best player in the tournament.
She was awarded the women’s Ballon d’Or in 2023 and 2024 and won the Champions League with Barcelona in the same successive years.
“I am grateful and proud to win this award,” said Bonmati.
“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.”
Bonmati won every possible trophy at club level last season as Barcelona secured a historic quadruple – winning Liga F, the Champions League, Supercopa and Copa de la Reina.
Bonmati scored a career-best tally of 19 goals across all four competitions and finished ahead of Zambia striker Barbra Banda and her club team mate Caroline Graham Hansen in the vote.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr won the men’s award at the ceremony in Qatar.
Marta wins her own award
This year saw the women’s game get its version of the Puskas Award for the best goal of the year, named the Marta Award after the Brazil legend.
And 38-year-old Marta won the inaugural Marta Award, for her goal against Jamaica in June.
The best women’s goalkeeper award went to American Alyssa Naeher of the Chicago Red Stars.
Hayes is coach of the year
Former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was honoured as the best women’s coach after she led the United States to the gold medal at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Hayes took the US job after guiding Chelsea to the WSL title last season, her fifth successive league win with the club.
It is the second time Hayes has won the award, having also won in 2021.
She reclaims the title from England boss Sarina Wiegman, who won it in 2022 and 2023, beating Manchester City head coach Gareth Taylor and her Chelsea successor Sonia Bompastor to the prize.
Barcelona dominate World XI
England defender Lucy Bronze made the Best Fifa women’s XI, which was dominated by Barcelona and Spain players.
Graham Hansen was included up front, while Naeher is one of three Americans to make the cut.
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)
