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Why Aitana Bonmati was left out of 30 player Ballon d’Or shortlist

ByKehinde-Hassan Afolabi

Aitana Bonmati’s three-year reign as Women’s Ballon d’Or winner will end after the Barcelona midfielder was excluded from the 2026 shortlist following a lengthy injury lay-off.

Aitana Bonmati has been excluded from the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or, ending her three-year hold on the prestigious award.

Le Parisien reported that the Barcelona and Spain midfielder missed most of the 2025-26 campaign after suffering a fractured fibula with ligament damage that required surgery, leaving her sidelined for several months.

Bonmati, who won the award in 2023, 2024 and 2025, eventually returned in May but was unable to build a strong enough individual campaign to earn another nomination.

Her absence guarantees a new winner in 2026, with former Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas among the leading contenders to reclaim the prize she won in 2021 and 2022.

Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi is a football journalist whose deep tactical understanding of the game makes him a standout, captivating audiences across print, audio, and video. His poetic background brings a unique rhythm and depth to his work, seamlessly transforming analysis into artistry. With a knack for narration and research, he captures the drama of the game beyond tactics and statistics, making each piece of his; a compelling blend of insight and storytelling.

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