Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati won her second consecutive women’s Ballon d’Or on Monday, after leading her club to a historic continental quadruple of titles and winning the Nations League with her country.

The 26-year-old playmaker joins teammate Alexia Putellas as the only woman to have won the Ballon d’Or twice, since the award’s inauguration in 2018.

“This cannot be achieved alone, I am very lucky to be surrounded by players who make me better every day,” Bonmati said after receiving the award.

“Thanks to the staff, to the workers of the club, without you we would not have as much success.”

Already considered an all-time great in women’s football, Bonmati stood out as Barcelona embarked on a trophy-laden 2023/24 season.

The Catalans won every trophy at their disposal last season: the Spanish championship, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de Espana and a second consecutive Women’s Champions League.

Bonmati scored a goal and produced a player of the match performance as Barcelona beat Lyon 2-0 in the Champions League final to win their third title in four seasons.

– ‘I felt the most proud’ –

“It’s the first time we’ve beaten Lyon. I’m proud of the team and we know that with the crowd we have we can’t fail,” Bonmati said after the crowning achievement of his season, played in in front of 51,000 spectators at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao.

A product of Barcelona’s renowned La Masia academy, the diminutive midfielder was also named UEFA Player of the Season for her six goals and six assists during her team’s successful European campaign.

With eight goals and 11 assists in Spain’s Liga F, Bonmati was also instrumental in guiding Barcelona to a fifth consecutive league title.

The 2023 World Cup winner added the inaugural Women’s Nations League to her haul in February, when she scored Spain’s opener in their 2-0 final win over France.

She was again selected by UEFA as the overall player of the final for her performances and goals in the semi-final and final.

Only a shock Olympic semi-final defeat to Brazil prevented Bonmati from having the chance to win a remarkable six titles for club and country in one season.

In April, Bonmati was named Sportswoman of the Year at the Laureus Awards, becoming the first female footballer to do so, and was recognized along with her Spanish teammates for winning the Women’s World Cup in August 2023.

She also received praise for helping to combat sexism within the Spanish soccer federation by protesting with her teammates after disgraced former president Luis Rubiales forcibly kissed player Jenni Hermoso.

“She’s a model player. The way she trains, her attitude, the way she approaches things on a daily basis, she just sets a great example,” then-Barcelona coach Jonatan Giraldez said of of its star asset in May.

“We met at the beginning of her career. I watched her grow, go through the whole process. I’m happy to have seen everything that happened to her, and she deserves everything.”

The women’s Ballon d’Or is chosen from a shortlist of 30 players by a voting jury made up of 50 international football journalists.