Three of the four winners since the Ballon d’Or was expanded to include female footballers in 2018 are back in contention: Bonmati (2023), Spanish teammate Alexia Putellas (2021, 2022) and Norwegian Ada Hegerberg (2018).

Five of the United States’ Olympic gold medal-winning teams are also nominated: Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, Lindsey Horan, Sophia Smith and Alyssa Naeher.

Balague: “Aitana Bonmati controls the game, has goals, assists, personality. She is growing fantastically well in a team that has taken women’s football to a new dimension.

“She has the high standards that every midfielder should aspire to, but because the Ballon d’Or is not just about football, she also represents the club and national team very well.

“She is a reference for kids in the stands and kids in the game. She is a great representative of football.”

Former England midfielder Fara Williams: “I would like to see Lindsey Horan in the top five, but my favorite would be Bonmati. It’s her IQ; her understanding of the game is among the very best.

“She controls Barcelona’s midfield, she really gets them going. Not only does she control the midfield, but she adds goals and assists to her game. If you are a midfielder and you have those qualities, then are you really the key.”

Bay FC defender Jen Beattie: “I’m going for Trinity Rodman. She had an incredible season. What she did at the Olympics was incredible.

“She is the perfect combination of speed and technical ability. The speed she achieves on the field is incredible.

“She really deserves it. What she has done for club and country is what puts you in the mix for the Ballon d’Or. She has done it at all levels.”

Former England striker Ellen White: “Trinity Rodman could win it, or Sophia Smith or Aitana Bonmati.

“But I want to compliment Barbra Banda. She has had a great Olympics, with back-to-back hat tricks. She is the second top scorer in the NWSL with 13 goals in 20 games.”