Three of the four winners since the Ballon d’Or expanded to recognise female footballers in 2018 are again in contention – Bonmati (2023), Spain team-mate Alexia Putellas (2021, 2022) and Norway’s Ada Hegerberg (2018).

Five of the United States’ Olympic gold medal-winning squad 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 with a team who have taken women’s football to a new dimension.

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

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

Former England midfielder Fara Williams: “I would like to see Lindsey Horan in the top five, but my favourite would be Bonmati. It’s her IQ – her game understanding is right up there with the very best.

“She controls the midfield for Barcelona – really gets them going. She doesn’t just control it, but she adds goals and assist to her game. When you’re a midfielder and you have those attributes, you’re really key.”

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

“She is the perfect combination between pace and technical ability. The speed she gets up to on the field is incredible.

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

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

“But I want to give a shout out to Barbra Banda. She had an amazing Olympics, with successive hat-tricks. She is the second top goalscorer in the NWSL with 13 goals in 20 games.”