Aitana Bonmatí makes history with third straight Guardian top 100 crown
Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí has made history by becoming the first footballer to claim top spot in the Guardian’s top 100 female footballers list for a third consecutive year.
The 27-year-old playmaker, who surpassed teammate Alexia Putellas's record of two consecutive wins, asserted her dominance over the global game following another stellar calendar year. Bonmatí guided Barcelona to the UEFA Women's Champions League final and helped Spain reach the Euro 2025 final. A one-club icon who has surpassed 300 appearances for Barcelona, Bonmatí captured 43% of the first-place votes from a 143-judge panel.
Competitive Top Tier and Major Climbers
Bonmatí finished 453 points ahead of Spain and Arsenal star Mariona Caldentey, who secured 21% of first-place selections. England's Euro-winning striker Alessia Russo claimed third place after climbing 39 spots, while two-time winner Alexia Putellas finished fourth. Both Russo and Putellas collected 8% of the first-choice votes, joining Bonmatí and Caldentey as the only players to exceed 4,000 points.
A reshaped top 10 featured several debutants at that level, including Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, Temwa Chawinga, Patri Guijarro, Ewa Pajor, and Clàudia Pina. Barcelona youngster Pina registered the list's highest rise, leaping 65 places, followed closely by Gotham FC's Esther González (up 59) and Germany's Klara Bühl (up 40).
New Faces and Global Growth
Demonstrating the rapid evolution of the women's game, nearly 25% of this year's top 100 were newcomers:
- Hannah Hampton entered straight into the top five following her heroics in England's European Championship defence.
- Rising talents Vicky López, Sofia Cantore, Nathalie Björn, and Michelle Agyemang all secured places in the top 50.
- Morocco earned its first-ever representative via Ghizlane Chebbak, while Esther Okoronkwo of AFC Toronto provided Canada's Northern Super League with its first listing.
- Continental stars Amanda Gutierres and Gift Monday debuted alongside emerging prospects Olivia Smith, Lily Yohannes, and Signe Gaupset, while Mexico veteran Charlyn Corral received recognition.
WSL and Chelsea Lead Club and League Representation
Chelsea surpassed Barcelona as the club with the highest representation, placing 15 players on the list after completing a domestic treble under Sonia Bompastor, compared to 14 for Arsenal and 12 for Barcelona.
The Women's Super League strengthened its standing as the foremost domestic competition with 39 entries (an increase of 12 from 2024), leading the NWSL (19) and Liga F (16). Nationally, England led the rankings with 14 players, edging Spain (13), the United States (9), France (9), and Copa América champions Brazil (5).
Only Lucy Bronze, Wendie Renard, and Pernille Harder have retained places in every edition of the rankings since its inception, as Saki Kumagai and Jenni Hermoso dropped out for the first time. Brazilian legend Marta, aged 39, stood as the oldest player included, while 18-year-old Lily Yohannes was the youngest.
Bonmatí faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a broken leg in training ahead of the Nations League final, ruling her out for more than four months of 2026, but her third straight triumph cements her standing as the defining player of her generation.