Barcelona's and the Spanish national team's star Aitana Bonmatí was a clear pre-favourite to win the prestigious award for the third year in a row.
Or could her compatriot Mariona Caldentey snatch the prize from her?
Caldentey, club teammate with Stina Blackstenius in Arsenal, had to settle for finishing second in the vote.
Only the male players Lionel Messi, Argentina (four in a row), and Michel Platini, France, have previously won the award three years in a row.
I never thought when I was a child that I could achieve this because when I was a child, I didn't think women's football could exist. I had idols like Iniesta and Xavi when I was a child. It was only them I saw on TV. It's incredible to be here and make history, says the Spaniard in her acceptance speech.
Among the men, the duel was between the Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé and the Spaniard Lamine Yamal.
Dembélé received the most votes after his fine season when Paris SG finally managed to win the Champions League.
It's been a turbulent year. This is an individual award, but we won our successes as a collective, says Dembélé, who in a long and emotional speech thanked everyone and couldn't hold back tears.
The Ballon d'Or is awarded by the French newspaper France Football and is considered the finest individual award a football player can receive.
On the women's side, it has been awarded since 2018.
On the men's side, the Golden Ball has been awarded since 1956. The ball is – as the name more than suggests – made of genuine gold and the total weight of the award is twelve kilos.
Golden Ball, men: Ousmane Dembélé, France/Paris SG
Golden Ball, women: Aitana Bonmatí, Spain/Barcelona
Coach of the Year, men: Luis Enrique, Paris SG
Coach of the Year, women: Sarina Wiegman, England
Club of the Year, men: Paris SG
Club of the Year, women: Arsenal
Kopa award, men (world's best player under 21 years): Lamine Yamal, Spain/Barcelona
Kopa award, women: Vicky Lopez, Spain/Barcelona
Yashin award, men (world's best goalkeeper): Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy/PSG/Manchester City
Yashin award, women: Hannah Hampton, England/Chelsea
Gerd Müller award, men (top scorer): Viktor Gyökeres, Sweden/Sporting
Gerd Müller award, women: Ewa Pajor, Poland/Barcelona.
