Rodri Hernández’s recent signing for FC Barcelona is not only one of the most significant moves of the transfer window.

The midfielder’s arrival at the Catalan club marks a truly unprecedented milestone in the history of modern football.

With the signing of the Madrid-born player, Barça have become the first club to boast, in the same season, a winner of the men’s Ballon d'Or and a winner of the women’s Ballon d'Or.

Rodri Hernández (winner of the 2024 Ballon d'Or) and Aitana Bonmatí (three-time winner of the Ballon d'Or) will play for the same club during the 2026–27 season. This is something that has never been seen before.

The champions who never got to play together

In 2021, FC Barcelona came very close to achieving this same milestone when Lionel Messi and Alexia Putellas won the Ballon d'Or after delivering outstanding seasons in the Blaugrana shirt.

However, the Argentine star’s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain that summer prevented the pair from playing for the club together as Ballon d'Or winners.

It is true that Alexia had been at Barça since 2012 and did play alongside Messi at the club, but she did not do so as a winner of the ‘Ballon d'Or’, as she won her first award in 2021.

Now, Barcelona will be able to enjoy the luxury of having both a men’s Ballon d'Or winner and a women’s Ballon d'Or winner in their squads at the same time.

Two brains in midfield

Beyond this historic achievement, there is one element that directly links the two players: the position they occupy on the pitch.

Without a doubt, both Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí will be the key architects of the midfield in their respective teams this season.

Both share qualities such as tactical awareness, the ability to control the tempo of the game and impeccable decision-making when distributing the ball.

Rodri will take the helm in Hansi Flick’s side as they set out to win more titles, whilst Aitana will lead a Barça Femení side that is already accustomed to success at the highest level.

Barcelona and its link with the ‘Ballon d'Or’ award

Since the women’s award was created in 2018, no other club had managed to field two winners – Rodri and Aitana – in the same season.

In this way, FC Barcelona is writing a new chapter in its history and opening its doors to a new winner of the most prestigious award.

Throughout history, 11 winners of the men’s ‘Ballon d'Or’ and 2 winners of the women’s ‘Ballon d'Or’ have worn the Blaugrana shirt.

Ballon d'Or winners who have played for Barcelona

  • Alexia Putellas

  • Aitana Bonmatí

  • Luis Suárez Miramontes

  • Johan Cruyff

  • Allan Simonsen

  • Hristo Stoichkov

  • Rivaldo

  • Ronaldo Nazário

  • Ronaldinho

  • Luís Figo

  • Lionel Messi

  • Ousmane Dembélé

  • Rodri Hernández

Will anyone else join them in the future?