Who Has The Most Ballon D'Or In Women's Football? Unpacking The Record Holder

Amara Renner 17 Aug 2025

When you think about the most prestigious individual honor in football, the Ballon d'Or very likely comes to mind. It's a prize that truly celebrates a player's remarkable skill and influence on the game, you know? For a long time, this award mostly highlighted men's football, but that all changed a few years back. Now, women's football also has its own golden ball, and it's become a really important symbol of excellence.

So, too it's almost natural to wonder, who among the incredible talents in women's football has managed to collect this coveted trophy more than anyone else? It's a question that gets people talking, actually, because the competition at the top level is just so fierce. Every year, new stars shine brightly, making their mark on pitches around the globe, and it's quite something to see.

Finding out who holds the record for the most Ballon d'Or awards in women's football tells us a lot about consistent brilliance and a player's enduring impact. It's about more than just one good season; it's about a sustained period of being at the very peak of the sport, you see. Let's take a closer look at the player who has, so far, set the standard.

The Golden Ball for Women: A Brief History
Alexia Putellas: The Reigning Queen of Football
- Personal Details and Bio Data
What Makes a Ballon d'Or Winner?
Other Notable Winners and Contenders
The Impact of the Ballon d'Or on Women's Football
Looking Ahead: Who Might Be Next?
Frequently Asked Questions

The Golden Ball for Women: A Brief History

The Ballon d'Or Féminin, which is the women's version of the famous award, is a relatively new addition to the football world, you know. France Football, the same organization that has presented the men's award for decades, introduced it in 2018. This was a really big step, as a matter of fact, showing a growing recognition for the incredible talent and dedication in women's football.

Before 2018, there wasn't a single, widely recognized individual award of this stature for women players. While other honors existed, the Ballon d'Or carries a unique weight and history. Its creation instantly gave women's football a platform to celebrate its brightest stars on a truly global stage, and that's pretty significant.

The idea behind it, like its male counterpart, is to acknowledge the best female football player over the past year. This includes looking at their individual performances, their team's successes, and their overall conduct on the pitch. It's a way to say, "You were the best this year," which is a huge compliment, obviously.

Alexia Putellas: The Reigning Queen of Football

When we talk about who has collected the most Ballon d'Or awards in women's football, one name stands out above the rest, you know. That player is Alexia Putellas. She is a truly exceptional talent from Spain, and she has, so far, made history by winning the award more times than anyone else. Her achievements are, in fact, quite remarkable.

Alexia first won the prestigious award in 2021. This came after a season where she was just incredibly dominant for both her club, FC Barcelona, and the Spanish national team. She played a central role in Barcelona winning a historic treble, which included the UEFA Women's Champions League, the Spanish league, and the Spanish cup. Her influence on the field was just immense, frankly.

Then, to everyone's amazement, she won it again in 2022. This second win cemented her place in the history books as the first woman to win the Ballon d'Or Féminin twice. It was a testament to her consistent high performance, even after facing a serious injury. Her ability to bounce back and still be considered the best in the world is, well, pretty inspiring.

Her style of play is something special, too it's almost poetic. Alexia is a midfielder who combines incredible vision with precise passing and a knack for scoring important goals. She often dictates the pace of the game, creating chances for her teammates and showing real leadership on the field. She truly embodies what it means to be a complete player, you know.

Personal Details and Bio Data

Detail	Information
Full Name	Alexia Putellas Segura
Nationality	Spanish
Date of Birth	February 4, 1994
Place of Birth	Mollet del Vallès, Spain
Playing Position	Midfielder
Current Club	FC Barcelona (as of current date)
Key Individual Achievements	Ballon d'Or Féminin (2021, 2022)
Major Team Trophies	UEFA Women's Champions League, Spanish League, Spanish Cup

What Makes a Ballon d'Or Winner?

So, what exactly does it take to be considered the best football player in the world and claim the Ballon d'Or? It's not just about scoring a lot of goals, you know, though that certainly helps. There are several factors that the voters, who are sports journalists from around the globe, consider when making their choice, and it's quite a process.

One very important aspect is individual performance. This includes how consistently a player performs at a very high level throughout the season. Are they making a big impact in every game? Are they showing exceptional skill, vision, and leadership? These are the kinds of questions that come up, naturally.

Another crucial element is team success, you know. While it's an individual award, a player's contributions to their team's victories are very important. Did their club win major trophies like the Champions League or their domestic league? Did their national team perform well in international competitions? A player who leads their team to glory often gets a lot of attention, obviously.

Finally, there's also the player's overall conduct and fair play. This looks at their sportsmanship and how they represent the game. It's about being a role model, too it's almost like being an ambassador for football. All these things come together to paint a picture of a truly deserving winner, you know.

Other Notable Winners and Contenders

While Alexia Putellas currently holds the record for the most Ballon d'Or Féminin awards, she is by no means the only incredible talent to have won this honor, you know. The award's short history has already seen some truly amazing players lift the golden ball, and their contributions to the sport are just as significant, actually.

The very first winner of the Ballon d'Or Féminin in 2018 was Ada Hegerberg from Norway. She was a prolific goalscorer for Olympique Lyonnais, and her win was a truly historic moment for women's football. She set the standard for what it meant to be the best, basically.

In 2019, the award went to Megan Rapinoe, an American forward known for her incredible skill, leadership, and outspoken advocacy. Her performance at the FIFA Women's World Cup that year was just phenomenal, and she really captured the hearts of many football fans around the world, you know.

Most recently, in 2023, the Ballon d'Or Féminin was awarded to Aitana Bonmatí, another Spanish midfielder from FC Barcelona. She had an absolutely stellar year, leading her club to more success and playing a pivotal role in Spain winning the FIFA Women's World Cup. Her rise to the top has been, well, pretty rapid and impressive.

Looking at these winners, you can see a pattern of players who not only excel individually but also make a huge difference for their teams. They are often the ones who step up in big moments and inspire those around them. The list of contenders each year is always packed with world-class talent, which just shows how much women's football has grown, you know. Players like Sam Kerr, who consistently performs at a very high level, are always in the discussion, too it's almost expected.

The Impact of the Ballon d'Or on Women's Football

The introduction of the Ballon d'Or Féminin has had a really positive effect on women's football, you know. It's more than just giving out a trophy; it's about giving the sport the recognition it truly deserves. Before this award, the biggest individual honors for women players didn't always get the same kind of global attention, actually.

One of the most important impacts is the increased visibility it brings. When the Ballon d'Or winners are announced, the whole football world tunes in. This means more eyes on women's football, more discussions about the players, and more interest in the leagues and tournaments where these stars play. It helps to shine a brighter light on the game, naturally.

It also helps to inspire young girls and boys who dream of playing football. Seeing women like Alexia Putellas or Aitana Bonmatí holding such a prestigious award shows them what's possible. It gives them role models to look up to and goals to aim for, which is incredibly important for the sport's future. It's about showing that excellence is celebrated, you see.

Furthermore, the award helps to push for greater equality within football. By having a parallel award that mirrors the men's Ballon d'Or, it sends a strong message that women's football is just as valuable and deserving of recognition. It's a step towards closing the gap in terms of media coverage, investment, and overall respect. You can learn more about football's biggest awards on our site, and perhaps link to this page for more on player achievements.

The discussions around who should win, the debates, and the excitement all contribute to a richer football culture. It creates narratives and highlights individual brilliance in a way that truly captures the imagination of fans. It's a very big moment each year, and it continues to grow in importance, you know.

Looking Ahead: Who Might Be Next?

After Alexia Putellas's remarkable back-to-back wins and Aitana Bonmatí's recent triumph, it's natural to wonder who might be the next player to etch her name into the Ballon d'Or Féminin history books, you know. The talent pool in women's football is just incredibly deep right now, which makes predictions quite exciting, actually.

There are many players consistently performing at a very high level who could be strong contenders in the coming years. We see incredible forwards who score a lot of goals, creative midfielders who control games, and solid defenders who anchor their teams. The competition is, well, pretty fierce, and that's a good thing for the sport.

Players who lead their teams to major trophies, especially the Champions League or international tournaments like the World Cup or Euros, will always be in a strong position. Individual brilliance combined with team success is still the winning formula, you know. The landscape of women's football is always shifting, with new stars emerging all the time.

It's also worth keeping an eye on how different leagues and national teams develop. As more countries invest in women's football, the level of play continues to rise, bringing even more top-tier talent into the spotlight. The future of the Ballon d'Or Féminin looks very bright, with many exciting possibilities for who might claim the next golden ball. You can check out the official details of the award on the France Football website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many people have questions about the Ballon d'Or Féminin and its winners. Here are some common inquiries, you know, that often come up when discussing this prestigious award.

How many Ballon d'Ors does Alexia Putellas have?

Alexia Putellas has, so far, won the Ballon d'Or Féminin two times. She won it in 2021 and then again in 2022. This makes her the player with the most wins in the award's history, which is quite an achievement, naturally.

When did the Women's Ballon d'Or start?

The Ballon d'Or Féminin was first introduced in 2018. That was the very first year the award was given out specifically to a female football player. It marked a significant moment for women's football, you know, giving it a truly global individual honor.

Who won the Ballon d'Or in 2023?

The winner of the Ballon d'Or Féminin in 2023 was Aitana Bonmatí. She is another incredibly talented midfielder from Spain and plays for FC Barcelona. Her win came after a fantastic year for both her club and her national team, which won the World Cup, you see.

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