Winning the Ballon d'Or used to be simple. You scored the most goals, you won the big trophy, you got the golden ball. Easy. But with the balón de oro femenino, things have always been a bit more chaotic, a bit more political, and honestly, way more interesting.
It's weird.
For years, women’s football was an afterthought to the organizers at France Football. Then, in 2018, they finally decided to catch up with reality. Ada Hegerberg walked onto that stage in Paris, made history, and then immediately had to deal with a DJ asking her if she knew how to "twerk." It was a mess. But that moment—awkward as it was—marked the beginning of a new era for how we value individual greatness in the women's game.
We aren't just talking about a trophy anymore. We’re talking about a shift in power.
The Evolution of the Balón de Oro Femenino
If you look back at the timeline, it’s actually kind of wild how late this all started. The men’s award has been around since the 50s. The women’s? Only since 2018. Before that, players had to rely on the FIFA World Player of the Year or the "FIFA Ballon d'Or" during that brief, confusing merger period. But the balón de oro femenino as we know it now is the one everyone wants. It carries a specific kind of weight that FIFA’s "The Best" just doesn't quite replicate.
There's a prestige to it. A history, even if it's a short one.
When Megan Rapinoe won in 2019, it wasn't just because of what she did on the pitch during that World Cup in France. It was about her voice. She became the face of a movement. That’s something you see a lot with this specific award—it often rewards the "player of the year" in the broadest sense of the word. It's about impact. It’s about who defined the season.
Then you have the Alexia Putellas era.
Back-to-back wins. 2021 and 2022. She was untouchable. Even when she tore her ACL right before the Euros in 2022, she still won the award because her previous season with Barcelona was so statistically absurd that nobody else could catch her. It shifted the conversation from "who had the best tournament" to "who is actually the best footballer on the planet."
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Why the Voting Process Gets People So Fired Up
Every year, when the shortlist drops, Twitter—or X, whatever—goes into a total meltdown. Why? Because the criteria for the balón de oro femenino feel a bit like they’re written in pencil.
The jury is made up of specialized journalists from the top 50 countries in the FIFA rankings. They’re supposed to look at three things: individual performance, team success, and "class" (fair play). But how do you weigh a Champions League title against a World Cup?
In 2023, Aitana Bonmatí made it easy for them. She won everything. She was the best player at the World Cup. She was the best player for Barcelona. There was no argument. But in years where there isn't a clear "double winner," the voting gets messy. Honestly, it’s kind of a beauty pageant sometimes. If you play for a big club like Lyon, Barcelona, or Chelsea, you have a much better shot than if you're carrying a mid-table team on your back, regardless of how many goals you score.
The Barcelona Dominance and the Spanish Takeover
Right now, if you want to win the balón de oro femenino, you basically need to speak Spanish or play in Catalunya. It’s just the reality of the game today. Spain has produced the last few winners, and it doesn't look like that's stopping anytime soon.
Aitana Bonmatí isn't just a midfielder; she’s a metronome. She’s the personification of why the Spanish style has taken over the world. When you watch her play, you realize that the physical gap that used to define women’s football—the idea that the fastest or strongest team wins—is dead. It’s about IQ now.
But this dominance creates a bit of a vacuum.
What about the NWSL? Players in the United States often feel overlooked because the European season aligns better with the voting cycle. If you’re lighting it up in Portland or San Diego, are the journalists in Europe even watching? Probably not as much as they should be. That’s a huge point of contention. The "Euro-centric" bias is a real thing, and it’s something the organizers have to fix if they want the award to stay truly global.
Numbers Don't Lie, But They Don't Tell the Whole Story
Let's look at the stats for a second. In the 2023/24 season, the numbers put up by players like Caroline Graham Hansen were borderline offensive. We’re talking 20+ goals and 20+ assists. In any other era, that’s a guaranteed win. But because she isn't as "marketable" or doesn't have the same media narrative as her teammates, she often gets pushed down the list.
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This is the "fame" tax.
To win the balón de oro femenino, you need:
- A trophy cabinet that's literally overflowing.
- A "signature moment" in a televised final.
- The backing of a massive PR machine.
- Consistent stats that look like they're from a video game.
It’s a high bar.
The Controversy of 2024 and Beyond
The 2024 ceremony solidified the era of Aitana. Her second consecutive win put her in the same bracket as Alexia. It’s a dynasty. But it also raised questions about whether the gap between the "elite" and the rest of the field is growing too wide.
When you look at the rankings, the top 10 is usually dominated by three clubs. Barcelona, Lyon, and maybe a sprinkle of Manchester City or Chelsea. This lack of parity is a bit of a problem for the award’s prestige. If the same five people are always in the running, does it lose its spark?
Kinda. Maybe.
But then you see someone like Salma Paralluelo. She’s young, she’s incredibly fast, and she’s already finishing on the podium. She represents the next wave. The players who grew up in professional academies from age eight. They are "total footballers" in a way the previous generation wasn't allowed to be.
Real Talk: What's Missing From the Conversation?
We need to talk about goalkeepers and defenders.
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In the history of the balón de oro femenino, it’s been a striker and midfielder party. Where is the love for the center-backs? Where is the recognition for the keepers who make ten saves a game? Mary Earps came close, finishing high in the voting in 2023, but it still feels like you have to do twice as much work to get half the credit if you aren't scoring goals.
Wendie Renard has been one of the most consistent players on Earth for over a decade. She’s a legend. She’s won more Champions League titles than most people have shoes. And yet, the top prize eludes her. It’s a flaw in how we "scout" greatness. We are suckers for a highlight reel of a top-corner finish, but we ignore the perfect sliding tackle that saved the game in the 89th minute.
How to Actually Track the Favorites
If you're trying to figure out who’s going to win the next one, don't just look at the goal charts. That's a rookie mistake.
First, check the Champions League schedule. If a player’s team gets knocked out in the quarterfinals, their chances of winning the balón de oro femenino drop by about 80%. It shouldn't be that way, but it is. The voters are human; they remember the big nights under the lights.
Second, look at the international calendar. In a Euro or World Cup year, the tournament is everything. You could have a mediocre club season, but if you score a hat-trick in a World Cup semi-final, you’re suddenly the favorite. It’s all about momentum.
Lastly, watch the media narrative. Who are the big outlets like L'Équipe or DAZN talking about? The "story" matters as much as the skill.
Actionable Steps for Following Women's Football Excellence
If you want to be a more informed fan and truly understand why certain players get nominated for the balón de oro femenino, stop just watching the "Big 4" leagues.
- Follow Liga F and the WSL closely. These are the two biggest hubs for talent right now. If a player is dominating here, they are a contender.
- Use advanced data sites. Look at FBRef or Opta. Check things like "Expected Assists" (xA) and "Progressive Carries." These stats often reveal who the real engines of a team are before the mainstream media catches on.
- Watch the UWCL group stages. This is where the reputation for the Ballon d'Or is built. Most voters only tune in for the final, but the real work happens in November and December.
- Pay attention to the "Ballon d'Or Power Rankings" that pop up mid-season. They aren't official, but they give you a pulse on who the journalists are leaning toward.
- Acknowledge the bias. Understand that being a "star" involves more than just football. Branding, social media presence, and big-game temperament all play a role in who takes home the trophy.
The award isn't perfect. It’s biased, it’s sometimes late to the party, and it ignores defenders. But it’s still the ultimate stamp of approval. When a player holds that gold ball, their life changes forever. Their transfer value triples. Their name goes into the history books. And for the balón de oro femenino, that’s exactly what the sport needs—more icons, more history, and more debates that keep people talking about the game.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the injury reports and mid-season form of the top ten players from the last ceremony. Football moves fast, and the favorite in January is rarely the winner in October. Focus on the players who perform in the biggest "clutch" moments, as those are the highlights that stay burned in the minds of the voters when the ballots finally arrive.