FIFA The Best: Barcelona star matches Lionel Messi's record

Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati has been named as FIFA The Best's Women's Player of the Year for the third consecutive edition.

The 27-year-old Spain international has now matches Messi's record of three FIFA The Best Award wins, after emulating the Argentine's record of winning three consecutive Ballon d'Ors.

Bonmatí was named FIFA Best Women’s Player of the Year 2025 at the awards ceremony in Doha today, becoming the first woman player ever to win the prize three consecutive times, matching Lionel Messi’s streak in the men’s game. 

Bonmatí’s 2025 win capped an extraordinary period in which she was central to both Barcelona and the Spanish national team. 

At club level she played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s dominant 2024/25 season, contributing nine goal contributions (4 goals, 5 assists) in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, where she was named UEFA Women’s Champions League Player of the Season for the third year in succession, and helping Barça secure their sixth straight Liga F title. 

She also starred for Spain at UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, scoring in key matches and being named Player of the Tournament as Spain reached the final before losing to England. 

Her FIFA The Best awards now mirror her  Ballon d’Or pedigree, where she became the first woman to win the award three times in a row (2023, 2024, 2025) at the ceremony a few months ago.