Aitana Bonmatí has won the Ballon d'Or for the third time in a row. Her teamwork and smart play helped her earn this award.
Aitana Bonmatí is a 27-year-old midfielder for FC Barcelona. She won the Ballon d'Or for the third year straight. This is a big award in football. People talk about if she earned it, since Barcelona lost the Champions League final to Arsenal by 1-0.
In the European Championship, Bonmatí scored a goal in extra time against Germany in the semi-finals. This helped Spain reach the final. Spain lost the final, but she was named Player of the Tournament. She missed some early games because of illness.
In the Champions League, she scored four goals and gave four assists in eleven games. In the Spanish league, she scored twelve goals and gave six assists. These are good numbers, but not the highest.
The Ballon d'Or looks at personal play, team wins, and fair play. Sports writers from around the world vote by picking their top ten players. Bonmatí won for her full effect on the game, not just numbers.
Bonmatí plays smart and helps her team. She makes good passes and sets up chances for others. She focuses on the team, not herself. Her old coach called her a good example for her effort and attitude.
Players like Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo also did well. Caldentey moved to Arsenal and was Player of the Season. Russo played strong for England and Arsenal.
This win shows how team work matters in football. Bonmatí had an injury lately, but she still helps the sport a lot. She helped Barcelona win a domestic treble too.
