Aitana Bonmati has become one of the defining names in modern soccer, a symbol of FC Barcelona’s dominance and Spain’s golden generation. Her journey from local fields to global acclaim is only beginning to unfold.

Known for her intelligence on the pitch and an unmistakable style of play, she embodies the evolution of the modern midfielder. Yet her story extends beyond trophies and accolades.

Between her roots in Catalonia, her connection to an iconic jersey number, and her growing influence on and off the pitch, her profile offers more than statistics — it tells the story of a player shaping an era.

How old is Aitana Bonmati?

Aitana Bonmati was born on January 18, 1998, in Sant Pere de Ribes, Catalonia—a childhood rooted in local pitches and mixed-gender youth teams. Her early ambition eventually led her to Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.

Now 27, she stands as one of the most decorated players in women’s soccer—a second Ballon d’Or winner who has matured into a global midfield maestro for both club and country.

At this stage in her career, she balances elite performance with leadership responsibilities: a seasoned head in the midfield, guiding the next generation while still approaching her peak years.

How tall is Aitana Bonmati?

At 1.62 meters (about 5 ft 4 in), Aitana Bonmati may not tower over opponents, but her presence is anything but small. Her low centre of gravity and agility make her one of the most technically refined midfielders on the planet.

Her height has never limited her—if anything, it’s enhanced her finesse. She navigates tight spaces with elegance, uses her balance to shield the ball, and delivers incisive passes that dictate tempo in the midfield.

What is Aitana Bonmati’s jersey number in Barcelona?

Aitana Bonmati wears the iconic number 14, not by chance but by design. It’s a deliberate tribute to Johan Cruyff—a symbol carried over from her time with the Catalan team and embraced at Barça to reflect the club’s soccer philosophy.

The choice of 14 became more than symbolic in September 2024: her contract renewal was officially announced at 14:14 (2:14 PM), a public nod to the number that has become part of her identity.

More than just a squad number, it’s woven into her persona. Her autobiography is even structured in 14 chapters, reinforcing that the number reflects her values—legacy, creativity, and continuity.

Aitana Bonmati’s career highlights

• La Masia beginnings and early promise: Joined Barcelona’s youth ranks in 2013, progressed quickly through B team before debuting for the senior squad in 2015–16. That marked the start of her ascent from academy talent to first-team regular.

• First Copa de la Reina success: In 2017, she scored in the final as Barça lifted the Copa de la Reina again, confirming she could step up on big occasions even as a young squad member.

• Breakout year and Champions League debut: The 2018–19 season saw her establish herself as a starter, scoring consistently and leading Barça to their first-ever Women’s Champions League final.

• First European crown and MVP of final: In May 2021, she netted a goal and earned MVP honours in Barcelona’s first Women’s Champions League win over Chelsea (4‑0), setting the stage for club dominance.

• Golden individual season: In 2022–23, with Putellas sidelined, Bonmatí assumed the creative reins—scoring 5 goals and providing 8 assists in Champions League action, guiding Barça to another continental crown and being named UEFA Player of the Season.

• Back-to-back European Player of the Season: In 2023–24 she continued her dominance with six goals and six assists in the Champions League. She scored first in the final and was again named Player of the Season and final MVP.

• Global recognition and team trophies: Her influence extended as she powered Spain to their first Women’s World Cup in 2023 (Golden Ball winner), won the inaugural UEFA Nations League with Spain, and claimed both Ballon d’Or Féminin and The Best FIFA Women’s Player awards.

• 2024–25 campaign superlatives: Despite Barça losing in the Champions League final to Arsenal, Bonmatí still earned Player of the Season honours for the third consecutive year, with five assists and four goals in Europe, cementing her place in the Team of the Season.

• Recent Euro 2025 heroics: She struck a dramatic extra-time winner to send Spain to their first-ever Women’s European Championship final, showcasing tactical intelligence and finishing precision under pressure.

“Who will win the Ballon d’Or? Honestly, I hope it’s someone from my team. It’s between Caro [Graham Hansen] and Aitana [Bonmatí]. Both had an amazing year, and I hope the award stays in Barcelona,” Putellas told Cadena SER.

Putellas, the player with the most Women’s Ballon d’Or titles (2021 and 2022), has helped make Barcelona the club with the most winners of the coveted prize. After Bonmati’s triumph last year, the Catalan club could extend their dominance as both Bonmatí and Graham Hansen are among the top contenders once again.

Barcelona had an outstanding season, winning all four trophies available, including Liga F and the 2023-24 UEFA Women’s Champions League. In the latter, they defeated Lyon in the final with goals from Bonmati and Putellas. Bonmatí also scored in the semifinals and was named Champions League MVP.

Meanwhile, Graham Hansen was the top scorer in Liga F, notching 21 goals and 19 assists. Across all competitions, she amassed 32 goals and 29 assists in 40 matches, earning MVP honors in seven games, including the Supercup final.

Who else from Barcelona is in contention?

Patri Guijarro and Salma Paralluelo join Putellas, Bonmatí, and Graham Hansen as Barcelona’s other nominees for the Ballon d’Or. Additionally, new signing Ewa Pajor, who arrived from Wolfsburg this summer, is also in the race for the award.

Other top contenders for the award

While Barcelona has dominated in European club football, international performances will also factor into the decision. The Olympic Games could play a role, making players like Sophia Smith—crucial to the USWNT’s gold medal run—a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or.

Barcelona have announced that 2023 Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati has signed a new four-year contract, extending her stay at the club until 2028. Reports from Spanish media, such as La Tribuna, suggest her new salary could be between €750,000 and €1 million annually.

ESPN reports that top earners in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and Women’s Super League (WSL) typically make between €400,000 and €600,000 annually, though salaries in women’s football aren’t publicly disclosed.

Bonmati‘s release clause is now considered nearly impossible to meet, although the exact figure remains undisclosed. With her previous deal set to expire at the end of the 2024-25 season, she received offers from some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Cristian Martín, Bonmatí’s agent, revealed that Chelsea were prepared to pay the €3 million ($3.3 million) release clause in her previous contract, along with offering a salary of around €2 million annually. Bonmatí’s renewal was a key priority for Barcelona, who had already secured the extension of two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas.

Bonmatí has made over 250 appearances for Barça’s first team, winning five league titles, three Champions Leagues, and helping Spain capture the Women’s World Cup and UEFA Women’s Nations League.

Barcelona rejects offer for Keira Walsh

In the past few years, Barcelona have become one of the most successful teams in women’s soccer thanks to signing talented players. The Catalans also rejected another important offer from Arsenal for Keira Walsh.

According to the Spanish program La Transmissió de la Gelmà, the Gooners wanted the England midfielder for a record-breaking offer of 1.1 million euros plus variables, a transfer figure never seen in the women’s market.

The Women’s Ballon d’Or, which was first awarded in 2018, is a relatively new trophy, but it has quickly become a coveted one as the women’s game reaches new heights. In this short time, Barcelona has also become the reigning club.

Bonmati’s win last year’s win, combined with Alexia Putellas’ previous two wins (2021 and 2022), make Barcelona the club with the most Women’s Ballon D’Or with three. This year, the Blaugranas have several candidates to lift the prize: Patri Guijarro, Caroline Graham Hansen, Salma Paralluelo, Putellas, and Bonmati. Meanwhile, Ewa Pajor, who joined the club from Wolfsburg this summer, is also nominated.

The Spanish club won all four trophies available to them, including Liga F and the 2023-24 UEFA Women’s Champions League. In the latter, they defeated Lyon in the final. However, as Spain didn’t win a medal at the Olympics, there are other players that could also win the Ballon d’Or.

One of them could be Sophia Smith, who played a key role in the USWNT’s Olympic triumph, as well as being also key for NWSL’s Portland Thorns. However, as the NWSL is in the middle of the season, this could be a handicap.

When is the Ballon D’or ceremony?

The Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on Monday, October 28. For only the third time in the award’s history, it will be determined based on the results of the season rather than the calendar year. This period spans from August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024.

Complete list of nominees to the 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or

Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride)
Tarciane (Houston Dash)
Lauren Hemp (Manchester City)
Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)
Ada Hegerberg (Lyon)
Manuela Giugliano (Roma)
Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)
Glodis Viggosdottir (Bayern Munich)
Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)
Lauren James (Chelsea)
Lea Schuller (Bayern Munich)
Patri Guijarro (Barcelona)
Gabi Portilho (Corinthians)
Tabitha Chawinga (Paris Saint-Germain)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona)
Lindsey Horan (Lyon)
Sjoeke Nusken (Chelsea)
Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)
Lucy Bronze (Chelsea)
Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
Giulia Gwinn (Bayern Munich)
Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)
Grace Geyoro (Paris Saint-Germain)
Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
Ewa Pajor (Barcelona)
Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Mayra Ramirez (Chelsea)
Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Paris Saint-Germain)

However, Luis Rubiales shocked everyone with a defiant press conference in which he justified his actions and delivered the phrase that made headlines: “I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to resign.” He repeated it three times, and somewhat shockingly, some people applauded him at the event.

Luis Rubiales’ words sparked outrage in Spain to the extent that several female and male players are considering leaving the national team as a demonstration of support for Jenni Hermoso. Today, during the 2022-2023 UEFA awards ceremony in Monaco, Aitana Bonmati had enough of the situation.

Aitana Bonmati fed up with Luis Rubiales after Jenni Hermoso’s kiss

Aitana Bonmati, one of the best players of Spain’s national team at the 2023 World Cup, exploded against Luis Rubiales when she received the Women’s Player of the Year award from UEFA. The shocking episode was seen worldwide during the ceremony.

“We have just won the World Cup, but not much is said about it because of things that shouldn’t have happened. As a society, we should not allow abuse of power and disrespect in a working relationship. I support Jenni and as women we will fight our best to prevent this from happening again.”

As a consequence of Luis Rubiales’ controversial statement, the government in Spain has already initiated a legal process and FIFA suspended him three months launching an investigation. Despite this, the executive showed a challenging attitude in front of the media.

“Is it so serious that I should leave, having overseen the best management in the history of Spanish football? Do you all think I should resign? Well, I’ll tell you something. I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to resign. And let me tell you more, I have faced a lot of pressure.”

Furthermore, in the moment which outraged the world, Luis Rubiales explained what happened with the controversial kiss to Jenni Hermoso. “I want to apologize unreservedly. She was the one who lifted me up and brought me close to her body. And I said to her, ‘a little peck?’ and she said to me, ‘okay’.”