Opinion: Was Alessia Russo robbed of Ballon d'Or?

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Kristina Němcová September 23, 2025 • 2 min read

Opinion: Was Alessia Russo robbed of Ballon d'Or?

Aitana Bonmatí won the Ballon d'Or 2025. However, this decision sparked controversy in the world of football.

Aitana Bonmatí is undoubtedly an outstanding player. However, in the past season she lost both the Champions League final and the Euros, and on top of that, she missed the decisive penalty. That’s why a large part of the public criticizes the fact that she was the one awarded the Ballon d’Or. Even more so because in the Champions League final she faced Alessia Russo.

The England and Arsenal forward reached the peak this year at both club and international level. Moreover, in the Euro final she scored the equalizer, sending the match into extra time and penalties, where England defeated Spain. Russo was also the top scorer in the WSL. Bonmatí, meanwhile, failed to achieve any of these successes.

Alessia Russo probably won everything there was to win last season, and there was nothing more she could have achieved. Yet it was only enough for third place.

The Ballon d’Or is an award voted on by journalists. Bonmatí’s victory raises the question of whether the voters have sufficient knowledge of women’s football, or if they are simply voting based on name recognition. In the men’s category, PSG dominated. Player of the Year went to Ousmane Dembélé, who, together with his team, won the Champions League. Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey achieved the same with Arsenal. Even so, they both finished behind Bonmatí in the rankings, despite her having lost the Champions League final to them.