Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmatí was awarded her third straight Ballon d’Or, joining Michel Platini (1983-85) and Lionel Messi (2009-12) as only the third player in history to three-peat.
Bonmatí has won everything in the club game with Barcelona, leading the club to a domestic treble last season.
She is a three-time Women’s Champions League winner as well as a World Cup and a UEFA Nations League champion with Spain.
Spain, however, missed out on the Euros title this year to England.
Bonmatí won ahead of her Spain teammate Mariona Caldentey. Caldentey joined Arsenal last summer and helped deliver the biggest prize in the team’s history, the Champions League.
Spain legend Andres Iniesta presented the award to Bonmatí on Monday.
“This is my third consecutive year here, and I’m not quite sure what to say,” the 27-year-old told the crowd. “It’s incredible. Thank you first and foremost to France Football for awarding me this prize for the third time. It could easily have been any of you.
“I think the level of competition was very high this year. My teammates here have all had a fantastic year. Receiving this award from Iniesta, who, along with Xavi is one of my idols since I was a little girl is truly special. My football career is partly thanks to them.”
Bonmatí said the ceremony was important in the quest for gender equity.
“Thank you to the organisers for improving the event every year,” she said. “This is the first year we have the same awards as the men, and that is much appreciated.
“Equality is something we have been asking for for a long time. Today we have achieved it. To Barça, to Joan Laporta, the president and the board, my teammates, the staff … we didn’t achieve this alone. It’s thanks to a tremendous team effort. Thank you to Barça, the club of my life.”
