Alessia Russo is leading the race to break Spain’s dominance of the Ballon d’Or Féminin, with her double-winning season for club and country putting her ahead of the pack.
Russo opens the Golden Ball ➔ Champions League champion with Arsenal and the Euro with England Mundo Deportivo (At. Madrid)28 Jul 2025 ➔ The final of the European Championship, revalidated by England in the cruelest way for Spain (0-0, 3-1 on penalties), opens more than ever the fight for the next Ballon d'Or. Mariona Caldentey started as one of the main candidates to succeed Aitana Bonmatí, since in addition to being vital for Arsenal to lift the second Champions League in its history, producing no more and no less than ten goals (eight goals and two assists) in European competition, she was elected the best player of the English Women's Super League. The former Barça player, author of the Spanish goal in the final of Basel, prevailed in the voting to the Chelsea champion duo, formed by Aggie Beever-Jones and Sandy Baltimore, and her partner Alessia Russo, who like the other six ‘gunners’ mentioned by Sarina Wiegman for the European Championship (including Chloe Kelly, who played the second half of the season on loan at Arsenal and already a footballer of the London club for all intents and purposes), have achieved a double within reach of very few. Essential piece Russo has also done it, being an essential piece, both for Arsenal (he scored 12 goals in the WSL and seven in Champions League) and for the 'Lionesses', distributing three assists and signing two goals in the Euro. Unappealable headbutt One of them, the one that unfortunately for Spain took the final to extra time. Kelly, author of the decisive maximum penalty, put it to music from the left wing and Russo, well placed, headed away from the reach of Cata Coll, who could do nothing. A goal that, in addition to leaving ours without what would have been his first continental title, can make the Ballon d'Or have no Spanish accent for the first time since 2019 ●
Mundo Deprotivo 28 July 2025
Before the nominations were announced, Mundo Deportivo believed that Arsenal’s Alessia Russo had emerged as the frontrunner to end Spain’s dominance of the Ballon d’Or Féminin, following a season in which she won both the Champions League with Arsenal and the European Championship with England.
Now that we know the names on the list, some of the Spanish press are still predicting a Russo win.
No player outside Spain has claimed the award since 2019, but Russo’s decisive header in the Euro 2025 final and consistent club form have propelled her into contention.
Alessia Russo of England celebrates scoring her team's first goal with teammates Ella Toone and Lauren Hemp during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Final...
Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
Russo scored 12 goals in the WSL and seven in the Champions League, adding two goals and three assists at the Euros, including the equaliser against Spain in Basel before Chloe Kelly’s winning penalty.
With a domestic and international double to her name, she is now tipped to succeed Aitana Bonmatí and become Arsenal’s first female Ballon d’Or winner.
Her main competition comes from club teammate Mariona Caldentey, whose early header gave Spain the lead in the final and who contributed 10 goal involvements in Arsenal’s European campaign.
LISBON, PORTUGAL - MAY 24: Mariona Caldentey of Arsenal lifts the UEFA Women's Champions League trophy whilst wearing a flag of Catalunya after her team's victory in during the UEFA Women's Champions League final match between Arsenal WFC and FC Barcelona at Estadio Jose Alvalade on May 24, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images
But Russo’s ability to deliver in the biggest moments for both club and country has placed her firmly at the forefront of voters’ minds.
A Ballon d’Or for Russo would mark a shift away from the Spanish stranglehold on the trophy and crown a career-defining year for the Arsenal forward, underlining the club’s growing influence on the global stage.
Since its inception in 2018, Arsenal have only ever had one player place in the top three – Beth Mead, who came second to Alexia Putellas, in 2022.
2018: Ada Hegerberg (Lyon, Norway)
2019: Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC, USA)
2020: Not awarded (due to COVID-19 pandemic)
2021: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, Spain)
2022: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, Spain)
2023: Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona, Spain)
2024: Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona, Spain)
Ballon d’Or nominees 2025
Arsenal women have seven nominees in the 30-name long list – Russo, along with Mariona Caldentey, Steph Catley, Emily Fox, Chloe Kelly, Frida Maanum and Leah Williamson.
Ballon d’Or long list
Alessia Russo (Arsenal, England), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea, England), Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, Zambia), Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona, Spain), Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea, France), Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal, Spain), Klara Buhl (Bayern Munich, Germany), Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit, Italy), Steph Catley (Arsenal, Australia), Melchie Dumornay (Lyon, Haiti), Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current, Malawi), Emily Fox (Arsenal, USA), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus, Italy), Esther Gonzalez (Gotham FC, Spain), Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona, Norway), Patri Guijarro (Barcelona, Spain), Amanda Gutierres (Palmeiras, Brazil), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England), Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich, Denmark), Lindsey Heaps (Lyon, USA), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal, England), Marta (Orlando Pride, Brazil), Frida Maanum (Arsenal, Norway), Ewa Pajor (Barcelona, Poland), Clara Mateo (Paris FC, France), Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea, Sweden), Caroline Weir (Real Madrid, Scotland), Leah Williamson (Arsenal, England)
In addition, Renee Slegers is in the running for Women’s Coach of the Year, the whole Arsenal team are up for Team of the Year, Michelle Agyemang is in contention for the Kopa while Daphne van Domselaar is up for the Yashin Trophy.
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