The Ballon d'Or Féminin (French pronunciation: [balɔ̃ dɔʁ feminɛ̃]), also known as the Women's Ballon d'Or, is an association football award presented by France Football that honours the player deemed to have performed the best over the previous season.
| Ballon d'Or Féminin | |
|---|---|
| Women's Ballon d'Or | |
.jpg) 2023 Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí | |
| Date | 3 December 2018 |
| Location | Paris |
| Country | France |
| Presented by | France Football |
| First awarded | 2018 |
| Current holder |  Aitana Bonmatí(1st award) |
| Most awards | Alexia Putellas (2 awards) |
| Most nominations |  Sam Kerr(5 nominations) |
| Website | francefootball |
| Related | Ballon d'Or |
Overview
editThe Ballon d'Or was first awarded in 2018, with Ada Hegerberg[1] of Norway becoming the inaugural recipient of the award.[2]
Australian striker Sam Kerr and French defender Wendie Renard were the only players to have been nominated for the award every year since its inception until 2023. Sam Kerr was the only player to place in the top 20 nominations every year, and was consistently in the top 7, until her ACL injury in January 2024.[3]
In 2022, Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas became the first and only player to win the award twice and in consecutive years.[4][5][6]
Mary Earps won the highest ever rank for a goalkeeper at fifth place in 2023.[7]
Winners
edit.jpg)
| Year | Rank | Player | Club(s) | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1st |  Ada Hegerberg
|
 Lyon
|
136 |
| 2nd |  Pernille Harder
|
 VfL Wolfsburg
|
130 | |
| 3rd | Dzsenifer Marozsán
|
Lyon
|
86 | |
| 2019 | 1st |  Megan Rapinoe
|
Reign FC[a]
|
230 |
| 2nd |  Lucy Bronze
|
Lyon
|
94 | |
| 3rd | Alex Morgan
|
Orlando Pride
|
68 | |
| 2020 | Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic[8][9] | |||
| 2021 | 1st | Alexia Putellas
|
Barcelona
|
186 |
| 2nd | Jenni Hermoso
|
Barcelona
|
84 | |
| 3rd | Sam Kerr
|
Chelsea
|
46 | |
| 2022 | 1st | Alexia Putellas
|
Barcelona
|
178 |
| 2nd | Beth Mead
|
Arsenal
|
152 | |
| 3rd | Sam Kerr
|
Chelsea
|
74 | |
| 2023 | 1st | Aitana Bonmatí
|
Barcelona
|
266 |
| 2nd | Sam Kerr
|
Chelsea
|
87 | |
| 3rd | Salma Paralluelo
|
Barcelona
|
49 | |
| 2024 | The winner will be announced on 28 October 2024[10][11] | |||
Wins by player
edit| Player | Winner | Second place | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexia Putellas
|
2 (2021, 2022) | – | – |
| Ada Hegerberg
|
1 (2018) | – | – |
| Megan Rapinoe
|
1 (2019) | – | – |
| Aitana Bonmatí
|
1 (2023) | – | - |
| Sam Kerr
|
– | 1 (2023) | 2 (2021, 2022) |
| Pernille Harder
|
– | 1 (2018) | – |
| Lucy Bronze
|
– | 1 (2019) | – |
| Jenni Hermoso
|
– | 1 (2021) | – |
| Beth Mead
|
– | 1 (2022) | – |
| Dzsenifer Marozsán
|
– | – | 1 (2018) |
| Alex Morgan
|
– | – | 1 (2019) |
| Salma Paralluelo
|
– | – | 1 (2023) |
Wins by country
edit| Country | Players | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Spain
|
2 | 3 |
| Norway
|
1 | 1 |
| United States
|
1 | 1 |
Wins by club
edit| Club | Players | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona
|
2 | 3 |
| Lyon
|
1 | 1 |
| Reign FC
|
1 | 1 |
Controversy
editThe ceremony for the Ballon d'Or is held every year during women's international break, meaning women nominated for the Ballon d'Or are often unable to attend.[12] 2023 nominee Georgia Stanway expressed frustration she could not be present at this "potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity",[13] having an Olympic qualifier match in another country less than 24 hours from the ceremony. Only seven out of thirty women were able to be at the ceremony in 2023. These attendees had games the next day and missed training, but came to accept the award for best club team of 2023, given to Barcelona.[14] Stanway called for better scheduling with women in mind so more female footballers could attend. England manager Sarina Wiegman expressed disappointment that the players' hard work would not be properly rewarded due to this scheduling conflict with international duty.[15]
The Ballon d'Or is the only award for women during this event, with no women's equivalent of the Kopa Trophy, Yashin Trophy, and Gerd Müller Trophy that are given to men.[16] 2022 second place Ballon d'Or nominee Beth Mead said, "[The Ballon d’Or] is such a prestigious award. But then it was a tick box to have women there but they weren't doing it right.[17]
See also
editReferences
editFootnotes
edit- ^ OL Reign were known as Reign FC during 2019.
Citations
edit- ^ Hub, Her Football (6 September 2023). "2023 Women's Ballon d'Or: All nominees revealed as award is set for new winner". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ Aarons, Ed (4 December 2018). "Ada Hegerberg: first women's Ballon d'Or marred as winner is asked to twerk". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
- ^ "Embarrassing new blow for Sam Kerr and Matildas as eye-opening six-year first emerges". Yahoo Sports. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas wins the 2022 Women's Ballon d'Or". Goal.com. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Alexia Putellas Becomes First Spanish-Born Player To Win Ballon D'Or Twice". Forbes. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Alexia Putellas remporte son deuxième Ballon d'Or féminin" [Alexia Putellas wins her second Ballon d'Or]. L'Équipe (in French). 17 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Earps makes history at Ballon d'Or awards". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Ballon d'Or cancelled for first time in award's history". ESPN. 20 July 2020. ISSN 1097-1998. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Ferré, Pascal (20 July 2020). "Il n'y aura pas de Ballon d'Or France Football en 2020" [There will be no France Football Ballon d'Or in 2020]. France Football (in French). ISSN 0015-9557. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "2024 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony date and venue announced". UEFA. 6 June 2024. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Hilsum, James (6 June 2024). "Ballon d'Or 2024: Ceremony takes place on October 28, Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham in running to dethrone Lionel Messi". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Garry, Tom (22 November 2021). "Ballon d'Or scheduling proves the women's game remains an afterthought". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "Georgia Stanway disappointed to miss 'once-in-a-lifetime' Ballon d'Or ceremony". North Wales Chronicle. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "Barça, best women's team of 2023". www.fcbarcelona.com. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ Sripad (30 October 2023). ""It's a potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" - Georgia Stanway rues fact that women's footballers can't attend 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ O'Neill, Caoimhe. "Novak Djokovic and the women's Ballon d'Or award - a mistake but not a surprise". The Athletic. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ Lacey-Hatton, Jack (31 October 2023). "Arsenal star slams Ballon d'Or organisers amid Novak Djokovic criticism". The Mirror. Retrieved 2 November 2023.