Aitana Bonmatí’s remarkable reign at the top of women’s football has come to a pause, with the three-time Ballon d’Or winner missing from the 2026 shortlist after an injury-hit season with Barcelona and Spain. The Spanish midfielder, who won the prestigious award in 2023, 2024 and 2025, will not have the opportunity to claim a fourth consecutive title after missing a significant portion of the 2025-26 campaign.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony took place at London’s Palladium on October 26, marking the award’s 70th anniversary. Bonmatí’s absence from the 30-player women’s shortlist was one of the major talking points when the nominations were announced in September. The primary reason behind Bonmatí’s omission is the serious injury she suffered while training with the Spanish national team in November 2025. The Barcelona midfielder sustained a trans-syndesmotic fracture of her left fibula on November 30, 2025. She underwent surgery on December 2, with Barcelona initially estimating a recovery period of approximately five months.
Before the injury, Bonmatí had continued to demonstrate her importance to Barcelona, making 15 appearances during the season, including 13 starts, while recording six goals and three assists. However, the extended spell on the sidelines significantly reduced her opportunities to influence the campaign. Bonmatí eventually returned to competitive action on May 3, 2026, coming off the bench against Bayern Munich in the second leg of Barcelona’s UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinal. Her return was a significant boost for the Spanish club, but she had limited time to rebuild her match fitness before the end of the season.
The timing of the injury and her subsequent recovery proved decisive in her absence from the Ballon d’Or shortlist. Bonmatí established herself as one of the defining players of her generation through her technical ability, composure in midfield and influence in major competitions. Her international profile grew significantly during Spain’s triumph at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where she played a central role in the team’s successful campaign. She subsequently won the women’s Ballon d’Or in 2023, 2024 and 2025, becoming the first woman to claim the award three consecutive times.
Her achievements placed her among the most decorated individual performers in modern women’s football. The 2026 edition, however, will feature a different winner, ending her run of three successive titles. Bonmatí’s absence has opened the field for a new winner, although several established names remain among the contenders.
Barcelona continues to have a strong presence on the shortlist, with players including Caroline Graham Hansen, Patri Guijarro, Ewa Pajor, Clàudia Pina and goalkeeper Cata Coll among the nominees. Former Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas, a two-time winner in 2021 and 2022, has also returned to the list. Other prominent nominees include Arsenal’s Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey, Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw and Alex Greenwood, and OL Lyonnes players Selma Bacha, Wendie Renard and Melchie Dumornay. The shortlist reflects the range of talent across European club football and other international competitions, setting up a new contest for the prestigious individual honour.
Bonmatí’s absence from the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist underlines how injuries can reshape an individual award race, even for a player who has dominated the honour for three consecutive years. Her achievements with Barcelona and Spain remain significant, but the award recognises performances over a defined period, making availability and sustained contributions important considerations. With much of her season disrupted by injury, Bonmatí had limited opportunities to build another compelling case for the trophy.
Her return to the pitch in May was an encouraging development, and her next challenge will be to regain full fitness and re-establish her influence across an entire campaign. For women’s football, the 2026 Ballon d’Or represents both a changing of the guard and a reminder of the depth of talent in the game. Bonmatí’s absence creates an opening for a new winner, but her record ensures that she will remain a central figure in the conversation when she returns to a full season of competition.
Full list of nominees for Women’s footballer of the year:
Selma Bacha, Barbra Banda, Esmee Brugts, Klara Bühl, Mariona Caldentey, Scarlett Camberos, Kerstin Casparij, Temwa Chawinga, Cata Coll, Melchie Dumornay, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alex Greenwood, Patri Guijarro, Pernille Harder, Yui Hasegawa, Rose Lavelle, Mapi León, Lorena, Melvine Malard, Manaka Matsukubo, Vivianne Miedema, Ewa Pajor, Clàudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Wendie Renard, Alessia Russo, Khadija Shaw, Momoko Tanikawa, Caroline Weir, Tessa Wullaert
