Just a little over a decade ago, few believed that women’s football would see its own prestigious award on the level of the Ballon d’Or. For more than six decades, France Football honored only male players. It wasn’t until 2018 that this pattern was broken the Ballon d’Or Féminin was created, an award designed to recognize the best female footballers in the world.
Since then, the Women’s Ballon d’Or has become a symbol not only of individual success but also of the recognition that female players had long deserved.
Beginnings and Rules of the Award
The first edition was held in December 2018. Fifty journalists from around the world voted, using three main criteria:
- individual and team achievements,
- sporting class and style of play,
- overall career.
The scoring system mirrored the men’s award, each juror created their own top five, awarding between 6 and 1 point.
Year by Year – the Full Podium
- 2018 – Ada Hegerberg (Olympique Lyonnais) became the first-ever winner, ahead of Pernille Harder (Wolfsburg) and Dzsenifer Marozsán (Lyon).
- 2019 – The World Cup in France propelled Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC) to the top. Lucy Bronze (Lyon) finished second, Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride) third.
- 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic halted competitions. For the first time in decades, France Football decided not to award the Ballon d’Or – for both women and men.
- 2021 – The Barcelona era began. Alexia Putellas won, with Jenni Hermoso (Barcelona) and Sam Kerr (Chelsea) behind her.
- 2022 – Putellas repeated her success, beating Beth Mead (Arsenal) and once again Sam Kerr.
- 2023 – After a golden World Cup and dominance in the Women’s Champions League, Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona) triumphed. Second place went to Sam Kerr, third to teenage sensation Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona).
- 2024 – A true showcase of Barcelona’s power. Bonmatí first again, joined on the podium by Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo, all three tied to the Catalan club.
- 2025 – Another Spanish triumph for Bonmatí, but with a surprise behind her: Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo, both representing Arsenal.
Clubs and Nations of the Winners
In the early years, Olympique Lyonnais dominated, Europe’s powerhouse in women’s football. Ada Hegerberg and Dzsenifer Marozsán represented a club that reigned supreme for a decade.
Since 2021, the Barcelona era has taken over. Putellas, Bonmatí, Graham Hansen, and Paralluelo regularly make the podium, turning the Catalan giant into the most important brand in women’s football.
Arsenal entered the race in 2022 thanks to Beth Mead, and confirmed its ambitions in 2025 when two of its players finished in the top three.
At the national level, the leading countries are Spain (Putellas, Bonmatí, Paralluelo, Caldentey), Norway (Hegerberg, Graham Hansen), the USA (Rapinoe, Morgan), and Denmark (Harder).
New Categories – the 2025 Revolution
For its first years, the Women’s Ballon d’Or had only one category – best female player. That changed in 2025, when France Football announced an expansion:
- Women’s Yashin Trophy – best goalkeeper,
- Women’s Kopa Trophy – best young player,
- Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy – top goalscorer.
Additionally, women are eligible for the joint awards:
- Trophée Cruyff – best coach,
- Women’s Club of the Year – best club,
- Socrates Award – for social impact.
This is a milestone recognition not only of attacking stars, but also of goalkeepers and emerging talents.
Women’s Ballon d’Or – a Symbol of Equality
Today, the Ballon d’Or Féminin is more than just an award. It’s a symbol of acknowledgment that women’s football carries the same emotions, legends, and stories as the men’s game. From Hegerberg, through Rapinoe, to Bonmatí the winners are creating a new narrative of football, where record-breaking stadium crowds, championship trophies, and individual stars are no longer defined by gender.
With every passing year, the Women’s Ballon d’Or gains prestige and along with it, the entire women’s game grows in significance.
