A successful career

Spanish striker Mariona Caldentey has just received her third consecutive nomination for the Women’s Ballon d'Or. Her first came in 2024, when she finished in 8th place, and her second in 2025, when she took 2nd place, behind only Aitana Bonmatí, a three-time winner of the award.

Now aged 30, Caldentey is an experienced player who has already built a career full of great moments and achievements, including these three nominations for the Ballon d'Or.

Let’s take a look back at what she has achieved for her clubs and the Spanish national team.

CE Felanitx

Caldentey’s first successes came at her very first club, in the town where she was born.

She was born on 19 March 1996 in the town of Felanitx, on the island of Mallorca, and joined the local club whilst still very young. Her father, Miguel, went on to serve as the club’s manager and chairman at different times.

Caldentey quickly became one of the team’s star players during her childhood and early teenage years.

At the time, she was the only girl at the club, and the committee registered her name as ‘Mariano’, using the masculine form, to avoid any potential issues with people who might object to her participation.

An extremely versatile player, capable of playing in virtually any position on the pitch, Caldentey won the Spanish Under-8 Championship with Felanitx before leaving the club for a brief spell at Club Estudiantes CIDE.

Her impact on her hometown club, however, would continue to be felt even many years after her departure.

In 2013, the club asked Caldentey to take the kick-off for the Ciudad de Felanitx Trophy match against Ferriolense.

In 2020, the ground where the team plays its home matches was renamed Camp de Futbol Es Torrentó Mariona Caldentey Oliver. It was the first public space in the municipality to be named after a woman.

Today, there is also a plaque in her honour at the local town hall.

Collerense

At the age of 14, Caldentey moved to Collerense, her first women’s club, which at the time was competing in the Spanish top flight.

Even at such a young age, she was already being called up to play for the first team by the manager, whilst continuing her development in the youth ranks.

Caldentey made her league debut at the age of 14 and, at 15, also made her debut in the Copa de la Reina.

In the 2012–13 season, she became one of the club’s key players and a regular starter in the team.

Barcelona

The big breakthrough in her career came in July 2014, when Caldentey moved to Barcelona. She made her debut for the club at the age of 18.

Caldentey would spend the next ten years at Barça, becoming a true legend of the Catalan club.

In June 2018, she scored a dramatic goal in the 122nd minute against Atlético de Madrid in the Copa de la Reina final, securing a 1–0 victory and the title for Barça.

In the 2020–21 season, Caldentey produced a run of outstanding performances and helped Barcelona become the first Spanish women’s club to win the Primera División, the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the Copa de la Reina in the same season.

In the 2024 Women’s Champions League final against Olympique Lyon, Barcelona won 2–0 and Caldentey was once again instrumental. She provided the assist for Bonmatí to open the scoring.

That year, she finished 8th in the Ballon d'Or rankings.

Caldentey is among the players who have made the most appearances, scored the most goals and won the most titles in Barcelona’s history.

Arsenal

In July 2024, Caldentey finally left Spain and moved to Arsenal in the English Premier League.

She had an excellent first season at the club, helping the Gunners finish second in the league and win the Women’s Champions League title.

Her goal from outside the box in Arsenal’s victory over Lyon in the semi-final was voted Goal of the Tournament, and she was also named in the Women’s Champions League Team of the Season.

In 2025, Caldentey came very close to winning the ‘Ballon d'Or’ award, but was ultimately pipped to the post by her former Barcelona team-mate, Bonmatí.

Spain

As well as being an outstanding player at club level, Caldentey has also become one of the most important players in the Spanish women’s national team over the last few years.

Her first call-up to the Spanish youth teams came in November 2011.

She then helped the Spanish youth teams finish third at the 2013 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship and as runners-up at the 2014 UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship.

Her goal against Canada at the 2016 Women’s Under-20 World Cup was voted the best goal of the tournament.

Caldentey made her senior international debut in 2017 and won her first international title that same year at the Algarve Cup.

She then took part in the 2017 Women’s European Championship, the 2019 Algarve Cup and the 2019 Women’s World Cup, before finally achieving international glory at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

In that tournament, Spain defeated England in the final and lifted the trophy for the first time in their history.

Caldentey also played a key role in the 2025 Women’s European Championship, scoring two goals and providing two assists. This time, however, it was England who came out on top, defeating the Spanish side in the final to claim the title.

A collection of trophies

As we can see, Caldentey’s third consecutive nomination for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ award is yet another accolade for a player who has already become synonymous with excellence, versatility and, of course, titles.

And what better way to round off this article than by taking a look at her ever-growing collection of trophies?

Titles won by Mariona Caldentey (up to September 2026)

For Barcelona:

  • 6x Primera División (2013–14, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24)

  • 5x Copa de la Reina de Fútbol (2017, 2018, 2019–20, 2020–21 and 2023–24)

  • 4x Women’s Super Cup (2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24)

  • 4x Copa Catalunya (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017)

  • 3x UEFA Women’s Champions League (2020–21, 2022–23 and 2023–24)

For Arsenal:

  • 1x UEFA Women’s Champions League (2024–25)

  • 1x FIFA Women’s Champions Cup (2026)

For Spain:

  • 1x FIFA Women’s World Cup (2023)

  • 2x UEFA Women’s Nations League (2023–24 and 2025)

  • 1x Algarve Cup (2017)