- The Golden Ball winner at Australia & New Zealand 2023 is on the list of 23 finalists for the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11
- If chosen by her fellow professionals, it would be Bonmati’s first appearance in the world team of the year
- The votes of women football players all over the globe will decide whether the Barcelona midfielder makes the World 11
It’s not hard to work out why Aitana Bonmati is one of the 23 footballers in the running for the 2023 FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11: she was awarded the Golden Ball at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
This Spanish midfielder, a world champion, also selected as best player in the 2022/23 Women’s Champions League for her contribution to Barcelona winning the title, is one of the leading candidates for a place in the 2023 team of the year.
Bonmati is in the running for the World 11 alongside fellow midfield finalists Claudia Pina, Fridolina Rolfo, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone and Keira Walsh, with professional footballers voting for their team of the year based on performances from 1 August 2022 to 20 August 2023 inclusive.
The 2022/23 season
Everything Bonmati took part in between August 2022 and August 2023 was top class: winner of the Spanish Super Cup, the Spanish Liga F, the Women’s Champions League and the Women’s World Cup.
Her level reached a new high, and for Barça she also proved she could play a few metres further forward and provide a reliable replacement for Alexia Putellas, no less, who was injured for much of the season.
The result was more goals and more assists: 13 in all (5 + 8) in the European competition, the highest total in the combined table, figures that justify being chosen as best player of the tournament.
In the league she had nine goals and 10 assists in 23 matches played, 18 of them as a starter.
At Australia & New Zealand 2023, Bonmati was the champions’ leader in terms of both football and team morale. Spain’s play was based on her vision. One of the three goals she scored – she also provided two assists – was a candidate for best of the tournament.
The Golden Ball for best player of the World Cup was the cherry on the cake, to which an extra layer of icing was added with the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or Feminin.
Individual achievements in 2022/23
- Women’s World Cup Golden Ball 2023
- UEFA Women’s Player of the Year 2022/23
- Best player of the 2022/23 Women’s Champions League
- 2022/23 Women’s Champions League Team of the Season
- Ballon d’Or Feminin 2023
- The Best FIFA Women’s Player Nominee 2023
Bonmati in the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11
At the age of 25, Bonmati has a chance of being included in the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11 for the first time in her career. But she already knows what it’s like to be on the shortlist of finalists: in the 2022 edition, presented at the beginning of this year, being a champion of Spain and runner-up in Europe earned her a place among the 23 players with the most votes.
Bonmati also achieved the same thing in 2021 when she won the league championship and the Queen’s Cup and was voted best player in the final of the Women’s Champions League, when Barcelona Femeni won the competition for the first time in its history.
“I’m an ambitious person with a strong character and I always try to convey this to the rest of the team: my will to win.”
— by Aitana Bonmati
The football world talks about Bonmati
“Aitana Bonmati is a football player who has me completely in love with her for the way she plays. I would say she is like the women's Iniesta playing for Barcelona. The current Barcelona team has made an incredible impact on the women's team in football.”
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager
“In technical terms Bonmati is the equal of anyone. She can chop the ball like Xavi.”
Vicente del Bosque, manager of the Spanish national team that won the men’s World Cup in 2010
“In Aitana Spain has a player of the highest level.”
Emma Hayes, Chelsea manager
When will the 2023 FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11 be known?
The 2023 FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11 will be officially announced at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023, for which the gala will be held on Monday 15 January 2024 in London, England.
It will be made up of the 11 players – out of the 23 on the final list – who receive the most votes in their position.
