Aitana Bonmati has won a third of the six women’s Ballon d’Or awards, and three in a row is now on the cards. The 27-year-old midfielder has been the beating heart of Barcelona and the Spanish national team for years. She provides silk and steel, the control amid the chaos.

It's been a few years since the winner of the Ballon d'Or Feminin has felt as difficult to predict as it does in 2025. There is a great handful of contenders who would be deserving of the award, as a result of outstanding seasons for club and country.

United States women's national team captain Lindsey Heaps also is on the 30-player shortlist alongside international team-mate Emily Fox.