Alexia Putellas Wins Third Ballon d'Or
The Spanish midfielder claimed her third career award after a stellar season with Barcelona and the national team.
Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas was awarded her third Ballon d'Or, returning to the summit of global women's football after a remarkable campaign with both FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team. Voted by a jury of 50 members representing the top-ranked nations in the FIFA rankings, Putellas added this latest trophy to her previous wins in 2021 and 2022. She joins her compatriot Aitana Bonmatí as the only female players in history to secure three Ballon d'Or titles.
Putellas's latest triumph follows an exceptional season in which she captured the domestic league, the Queen's Cup, the Spanish Super Cup, and the UEFA Women's Champions League with Barcelona. Serving as team captain, she played a pivotal role throughout the competitions, notably earning the Most Valuable Player honor in the Champions League after scoring seven goals, providing seven assists, and creating a tournament-high 36 goal-scoring chances.
Her success extended to international competition, where she captained Spain to victory in the UEFA Women's Nations League, helping secure qualification for the upcoming 2027 Women's World Cup and returning the squad to the top spot in the FIFA rankings. In her acceptance speech, Putellas reflected on the physical challenges she faced following a severe knee ligament injury in 2022 that threatened her career.
"We lived incredible moments as a team, we overcame certain difficulties in the form of injuries. It was an orgullo to be captain of all of you," Putellas said during her speech, expressing gratitude to her club coaches, executives, teammates, and staff members who supported her through her lengthy rehabilitation process. "I remember when my leg was failing, the pains in my knee, when I learned to walk and run again, and when I had the most doubts, you were there."
Following her historic tenure with Barcelona, where she surpassed 500 appearances and scored 232 goals across 14 seasons, Putellas embarked on a new professional chapter. Over the summer, she transferred to the London City Lionesses, joining a project spearheaded by entrepreneur Michele Kang aimed at expanding the reach and commercial viability of women's soccer.
Spain dominated the broader voting standings for the award, placing six nominees among the top 16 players in the world. Alongside Putellas claiming the top spot, teammate Patri Guijarro finished fifth, Claudia Pina eighth, Mariona Caldentey thirteenth, Cata Coll fifteenth, and Mapi León sixteenth, underscoring the ongoing dominance of Spanish players on the international stage.