Barcelona's Aitana Bonmatí wins the Ballon d'Or for the second time in a row

Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí has ​​retained the Ballon d'Or Féminin, beating off competition from teammate Caroline Graham Hansen for the second year in a row.

The 26-year-old was the star when Barça won the Quadruple for the first time in the club's history last season. Bonmatí won the fifth Liga F, the third Women's Champions League, the sixth Copa de la Reina and the fourth Spanish Supercopa in her career.

“Thank you for your applause. “I am so grateful to have been here for the second time to accept this award,” she said when accepting the award.

“I always say that you can’t do it alone. I am so lucky to be surrounded by wonderful players who help me to become a better player. So thank you to my teammates, because without them I wouldn't be here.” At this point I would also like to thank my club and (Barcelona president) Joan Laporta.

“As you grow and have more experience, you have confidence. It’s not about the trophies, it’s about having my teammates by my side.”

Bonmatí was also part of the Spanish team that won the first edition of the Women's Nations League following their success at the World Cup, scoring a goal in a 2-0 victory over France in the final.

It is the fourth year in a row that a Barça player has won the award. Bonmatí's teammate Alexia Putellas already won it in 2021 and 2022. Three of the top four nominees in the voting were Barça players – Bonmatí, Salma Paralluelo and Graham Hansen with Sophia Smith from the Portland Thorns.

Due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Putellas missed a large portion of the following year, which led to Bonmatí taking on a more prominent role both at club and country.

Last season she made 41 appearances across all competitions, scoring 19 goals in midfield and assisting 17 more.

She was named the 2023-24 Champions League Player of the Season and also picked up the player of the match award in the final – a 2-0 win over French club Lyon that gave Barça the trophy for the second year in a row.

Teammate Graham Hansen was close behind this season, finishing second, with Paralluelo third.

The Norway international has previously been overlooked for individual awards but has finally received some recognition for her contribution to Barça's success over the years since joining the club in 2019.

Graham Hansen scored 32 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions on the right wing last season and assisted on a further 28, for a total of 60 goal involvements.

Unsurprisingly, Barcelona were named women's football team of the year before Bonmatí received the final award at the awards ceremony.

Former FC Barcelona striker Jenni Hermoso has been awarded the Socrates Prize for humanitarian work. Hermoso, who now plays for Tigres in Mexico, has spoken out against sexual assault in football after she was kissed by former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales following her team's Women's World Cup triumph in August 2023.

Earlier in Paris, Barcelona's Lamine Yamal won the Kopa trophy for the best U21 player of the previous season, while Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé shared the Gerd Müller trophy for the most goals of the season.

Aston Villas and Argentina international Emiliano Martínez retained the award as the best goalkeeper in the world after his country won the Copa América.