When did the Ballon d'Or Féminin begin, and what are the Kopa and Yashin trophies?

The Ballon d'Or was first awarded to a woman in 2018: the Ballon d'Or Féminin, with Ada Hegerberg of Norway becoming the inaugural recipient. The ceremony also drew criticism. The host, DJ Martin Solveig, asked her on receiving the award if she wanted to dance and "knew how to twerk"; she responded "no". His comments were criticized as sexist in the media, and he later apologized.

From 2022 to 2025 the winners were two Barcelona teammates. Alexia Putellas won in 2022, the first to win twice and in consecutive years, and her teammate Aitana Bonmatí won in 2023 and 2024 and, in 2025, became the first to win it three times.

The ceremony has had growing pains. The 2023 edition was held during the women's international break, so the nominated women were unable to attend. In 2025, for the first time, it was held outside the break.

Two other trophies share the stage. The Kopa Trophy goes to the best young player under 21, named after Raymond Kopa, the 1958 winner, with Kylian Mbappé as the first recipient in 2018. The Yashin Trophy goes to the best goalkeeper, named after Lev Yashin, the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or itself, in 1963. In 2025 women received both for the first time.