The Spanish world champion Aitana Bonmati from FC Barcelona has won the election as FIFA World Player of the Year – and is succeeding her compatriot and teammate Alexia Putellas.
Bonmati was honored at the gala in London on Monday evening, beating her national team colleague Jennifer Hermoso from CF Pachuca and Colombia’s young star Linda Caicedo from Real Madrid.
“This has been the biggest year of my career so far. I am very proud of what I have achieved with my teams,” said Bonmati – and especially thanked her teammates. “Without you I wouldn’t be here.”
The 25-year-old won the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with Spain and also won the Champions League with the Catalans. Bonmati was most recently awarded the Ballon d’Or in October 2023. Putellas – also from Barcelona – recently became world footballer twice in a row.
FIFA Awards: DFB star Popp misses out on making the World XI
The women’s world coach election was again won by Sarina Wiegman, who led England to the final of the World Cup again after last year’s European Championship triumph.
England goalkeeper Mary Earps was also pleased to receive her second award in a row.
The final selection took place without German participation. National goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger from Chelsea FC at least made it into the extended selection, DFB captain Alexandra Popp (VfL Wolfsburg) missed the hoped-for jump into the World XI.
All coaches and captains of the national teams as well as specialist journalists and fans were eligible to vote in the elections; the decisive period was from August 1, 2022 to August 20, 2023, the day of the World Cup final.