Aitana Bonmatí has once again etched herself into history, becoming the first player to top the Guardian's women's football rankings for a third consecutive year. The 27-year-old midfielder from Barcelona and Spain has cemented her status as one of the world's best, surpassing even her own teammate Alexia Putellas in the process.
Bonmatí's dominance is nothing new - she won the award for the second time last year, but this year's victory marks a significant milestone. The rankings have been tracking the performances of women's footballers from around the world since 2015, and few have come close to matching Bonmatí's consistency.
While some may argue that the best things really do come in threes, it's hard not to wonder what could be next for this incredible player. With a Champions League final appearance and an Euro final win under her belt, Bonmatí has proven herself capable of delivering on the biggest stage.
However, this season won't be without its challenges for the Catalan midfielder. A broken leg in training before the Nations League final means she'll miss over four months of action, which will undoubtedly feel like a significant blow to her team's chances of success.
Despite this setback, Bonmatí remains at the top of her game - and it shows in the rankings. With 43% of the first-place votes, she outscores her nearest rival Mariona Caldentey by a significant margin. This is no surprise, given her impressive performances on the continental stage, where she's consistently impressed with her vision, passing range, and all-around skillset.
The Guardian's Top 100 rankings have undergone a number of changes this year, reflecting the growing talent pool in women's football. New faces like Esther González and Klara Bühl have made an impact, while veterans like Leah Williamson and Chloe Kelly return to the top quarter after a productive season.
The dominance of leagues like the Women's Super League is also evident in the rankings, with 39 players from this competition making the cut. The NWSL and Liga F trail behind, but it's clear that these leagues are on the upswing as well.
One thing remains constant - Aitana Bonmatí's status as one of the world's best. She's a true icon in her sport, and her ranking at the top of the Guardian's Top 100 is well-deserved.
Bonmatí's dominance is nothing new - she won the award for the second time last year, but this year's victory marks a significant milestone. The rankings have been tracking the performances of women's footballers from around the world since 2015, and few have come close to matching Bonmatí's consistency.
While some may argue that the best things really do come in threes, it's hard not to wonder what could be next for this incredible player. With a Champions League final appearance and an Euro final win under her belt, Bonmatí has proven herself capable of delivering on the biggest stage.
However, this season won't be without its challenges for the Catalan midfielder. A broken leg in training before the Nations League final means she'll miss over four months of action, which will undoubtedly feel like a significant blow to her team's chances of success.
Despite this setback, Bonmatí remains at the top of her game - and it shows in the rankings. With 43% of the first-place votes, she outscores her nearest rival Mariona Caldentey by a significant margin. This is no surprise, given her impressive performances on the continental stage, where she's consistently impressed with her vision, passing range, and all-around skillset.
The Guardian's Top 100 rankings have undergone a number of changes this year, reflecting the growing talent pool in women's football. New faces like Esther González and Klara Bühl have made an impact, while veterans like Leah Williamson and Chloe Kelly return to the top quarter after a productive season.
The dominance of leagues like the Women's Super League is also evident in the rankings, with 39 players from this competition making the cut. The NWSL and Liga F trail behind, but it's clear that these leagues are on the upswing as well.
One thing remains constant - Aitana Bonmatí's status as one of the world's best. She's a true icon in her sport, and her ranking at the top of the Guardian's Top 100 is well-deserved.
I'm not surprised to see Aitana Bonmatí on top of the rankings for the third year in a row, but it does raise questions about what's next for her. With her incredible skillset and experience, she's already proven herself on the biggest stage, but can she maintain this level of consistency over an extended period? 
The fact that she'll be missing four months of action due to injury is definitely a concern for her team, but it's also interesting to see how she adapts and recovers. 
As for the growing talent pool in women's football, it's exciting to see new faces like Esther González and Klara Bühl making an impact, but it's hard not to feel a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) when watching the top players dominate like Bonmatí does. 
Still, her ranking at number one is well-deserved, and I'm excited to see how she bounces back from this injury. 
she's been dominating the game for years now and it's hard to see anyone taking her spot at the top! 4 months off the pitch is gonna be a tough pill to swallow but i'm sure she'll come back stronger than ever 
. the rankings are showing some new talent emerging in the women's football world and that's awesome 
. it's clear that leagues like the WSL and NWSL are on the rise and i love seeing more players making a name for themselves 
i mean don't get me wrong bonmatí is an amazing player but 43% of first place votes feels like a bit much. what about all the other greats out there who aren't getting the recognition they deserve? 
She's killing it out there on the pitch! I mean, missing over four months with that broken leg is a bummer, but she's still dominating and breaking records – that's what I call resilience 
! The fact that the Women's Super League is making waves in the rankings is a huge win for the sport as a whole – more visibility, more recognition = more opportunities for these incredible athletes 
. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to see Aitana Bonmatí on top of those rankings again? 
The girl's got game and she's still raising the bar!
Aitana Bonmatí is on fire 
! I mean, to become the first player to win this award for three years straight is just mind-blowing 
. She's literally the best thing happening in women's football right now 
. And don't even get me started on her skills - that girl can play 
️ like nobody's business! 
The fact that she's missed over four months of action due to a broken leg is gonna be a major setback for her team, but I'm sure she'll come back stronger than ever 
. The growing talent pool in women's football is exciting to see, and it's awesome that players like Esther González and Klara Bühl are making an impact 
.