Barcelona ace matches Messi and Platini's record after beating Arsenal star to Ballon d'Or

Faruq Ibrahim 01:21 - 23 September 2025

Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati beat the Barcelona duo Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo to the Ballon d'Or

Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí matched Lionel Messi and Michel Platini's records as she became the first woman to win the Ballon d'Or for three consecutive years.

Bonmatí edges Arsenal stars to win Ballon d’Or

After positions 10th to 3rd were read out, it was clear that the Ballon d'Or winner to be announced by Andres Iniesta would be one of two Spaniards who idolise him: Mariona Caldentey or Bonmati.

Caldentey had a strong season with Arsenal, leading the Gunners to their second UWCL final and reaching the Women's Euros final with Spain.

Once, twice, and three times. Historic. #BallonDor pic.twitter.com/Q3ljqu6beW
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 23, 2025

However, the voters deemed Aitana’s tender more compelling, as she won the domestic treble in Spain, the UWCL POTY in which she was a losing finalist with Barcelona to Mariona’s Arsenal, and the WEUROS POTY.

Platini, Messi, now Aitana

French football legend Platini was the first player in history to win a treble of the Ballon d'Or consecutively (1983, 1984 and 1985).

Lionel Messi took it a step further, winning for four consecutive years, from 2009 to 2012. Aitana's reign began in 2023 and has now stretched to 2025.

Aitana Bonmatí joins Leo Messi and Michel Platini as the only players to win three consecutive Ballons d'Or 🐐 pic.twitter.com/UcuJQOt53k
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 22, 2025