Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí made history by becoming the first footballer to win the women's Ballon d'Or three times, while England's Lionesses were also recognised at the awards ceremony on Monday (21 September) night. The women's Ballon d'Or, officially known as Ballon d'Or Féminin and held at the Theatre Théâtre du Châtelet, in Paris, recognises the best female footballer of the year, as voted for by a panel of journalists.
England's players are gearing up for the start of a new domestic season after winning Euro 2025. In a summer to remember, the Lionesses beat Spain to win the European Championship for a second time in three years. But where do the Lionesses play their club football? Nineteen of the 23-woman squad are with clubs in England's Women's Super League. Anna Moorhouse, Esme Morgan and Jess Carter play in the United States, while midfielder Georgia Stanway is at Bayern Munich.
Premier League clubs could follow the England Lionesses in stopping taking the knee next season amid growing division among anti-racism campaigners over the merits of the symbolic gesture.
Captain Leah Williamson reportedly said the Lionesses need to take "responsibility" for their performance. "We lost the game with poor defending one-on-one," she added. "Not good enough with the ball, we weren't good enough."
