Aitana Bonmati, who powered Spain to its first-ever Women’s World Cup in August, won the Ballon d’Or Feminin on Monday.

The 25-year-old dethrones Spanish compatriot and Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas, who won consecutive Ballons d’Or before rupturing her ACL in July 2022.

Named the World Cup’s best player, Bonmati scored three goals and laid on two assists during Spain’s triumphant campaign in Australia and New Zealand.

The creative midfielder also took home the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year award, beating out Australia’s Sam Kerr and Spain’s Olga Carmona, who scored the only goal in the World Cup final against England.

But Bonmati had already established herself as one of the best players in the women’s game before the World Cup kicked off. In the absence of Putellas, who missed the majority of the 2022-23 season, Bonmati helped Barcelona win the Women’s Champions League with five goals and eight assists in the competition.

Aitana is just the fourth woman to win the Ballon d’Or after Ada Hegerberg, Megan Rapinoe, and Putellas. None of the previous recipients were shortlisted this year.

Kerr, who missed a chunk of the World Cup through injury, and Spanish teammate Salma Paralluelo finished second and third in voting. Barcelona forward Fridolina Rolfo and Manchester United and England goalkeeper Mary Earps ended up fourth and fifth.

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Brais Mendez scored again as Real Sociedad beat Benfica 1-0 in Lisbon on Tuesday to hand the Portuguese champion its third straight defeat in its Champions League group.

Ander Barrenetxea set up the midfielder in the 63rd minute to tap in the winner. It was a deserved goal for the Spanish visitors who were in control throughout of the Group D game.

Mendez scored in a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan and in a 2-0 victory at Salzburg in the previous group games.

“I think we were the better side in everything tonight,” Sociedad forward Takefusa Kubo told Movistar. “We can’t be too comfortable yet but if we play as we did tonight at home against the same opponent, then I think we will qualify.”

The visitors put Benfica under pressure though wasted several chances, while both teams had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half.

Benfica coach Roger Schmidt sent on substitutes Arthur Cabral and Orkun Kokcu at the beginning of the second half to try to revive his attack.

With three consecutive losses, and not a single goal scored, Benfica looks unlikely to return to the knockout stage after the Portuguese champion reached the quarterfinals last season.

“Benfica needs to score goals, that’s what we are missing,” substitute forward Tiago Gouveia said. “Perhaps creating a bit more, but we had some chances, we know that in Champions League the games are balanced and the smallest mistake could be fatal and that’s what happened.”

Real Sociedad is making its third Champions League group appearance, and first since 2013-14. The Spanish side reached the last 16 in its debut in 2003-04

In Milan, surprise starter Alexis Sanchez scored the opening goal for last year’s runner-up Inter on its way to a 2-1 victory over Salzburg.

The victories put Inter and Real Sociedad top of the group with seven points each. Salzburg is four points behind them.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Lionel Messi is set to win a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or ahead of Manchester City’s treble-winning striker Erling Haaland, according to insider Fabrizio Romano.

Messi steered Argentina to its third World Cup in Qatar last December, recording seven goals and a tournament-high three assists. Two of those goals came in the final against France, which Argentina won in a penalty shootout.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for Monday night in Paris.

Haaland scored 52 goals while breaking the Premier League’s single-season record and won a continental treble in his first season with Manchester City. However, the Norwegian didn’t participate in the World Cup, as his country failed to qualify.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe and Napoli pair Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had strong seasons as well. Mbappe became just the second player after Geoff Hurst to record a hat-trick in a World Cup final and led all scorers in Ligue 1 last season with 29 goals.

But it appears Messi has pipped all of his peers to once again claim the most prestigious individual award in world football. He extends the record he already owned ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s five and Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, and Marco van Basten, who have three apiece.

Messi built his candidacy almost entirely on his performance at the World Cup. His final season with PSG was underwhelming despite his 16 goals and 16 assists, with the Argentine admitting he was unhappy in the French capital.

His time with Inter Miami has been much more prosperous. He scored 11 goals in his first 14 matches with the Major League Soccer outfit and helped it win the Leagues Cup. Despite his best efforts, though, Inter Miami failed to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs.