Aitana Bonmatí becomes first three-time consecutive winner of Guardian top 100

Aitana Bonmatí has become the first player to finish top of the Guardian’s Top 100 for a third consecutive year, the outlet reported.

The 27-year-old finished 453 points clear of compatriot Mariona Caldentey, a narrower margin than the 568-point gap last year, according to the list compiled by a record panel of 143 judges. Bonmatí received 43% of the judges’ No 1 votes; Caldentey had 21%. Alessia Russo and Alexia Putellas each earned 8% of first-place picks and Temwa Chawinga 6%, with 13% of judges selecting other players.

The Guardian noted Bonmatí’s role in Barcelona and Spain across 2025. The midfielder, a one-club player with more than 300 appearances for Barcelona, helped her club to a Champions League final and led Spain to the Euro 2025 final with the winning goal against Germany in the semi-final. The piece also describes her as Catalonia born and bred, with both parents teachers of the Catalan language.

What happens next is affected by injury: Bonmatí broke a leg in training before the Nations League final and will miss more than four months of 2026, the outlet said.

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Sports, Aitana Bonmatí, Barcelona, Spain, Champions League, Women's Super League