Alexia Putellas Crowned Ballon d'Or Feminin Champion for a Historic Third Time

In a remarkable achievement, Alexia Putellas has won the Ballon d'Or Feminin for the third time, tying the record and ensuring the prestigious award remains in Spanish hands for the sixth year running. At 32, Putellas led Barcelona to Champions League victory, contributing to an impressive quadruple in the 2025-26 season before making a move to the Women's Super League with London City Lionesses in July. Now sharing the spotlight with fellow Spaniard Aitana Bonmati, who also has three Ballon d'Or Feminin titles, Putellas became a part of a historic run for Spanish players, with only Norway's Ada Hegerberg and American Megan Rapinoe breaking their streak in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Putellas’ latest accolade is particularly special as it marks a triumphant return to form after a serious ACL injury that threatened her career in 2022. She garnered the most votes from an international panel of journalists, placing Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor second and Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw in third. Barcelona consistently dominates competitions in Spain, but Putellas proved she remains one of the best in the world last season. Known as 'La Reina' or 'The Queen,' she netted 21 goals and provided 13 assists across all competitions, ranking among the top players in Europe. Her seven goals in the Women’s Champions League helped Barcelona secure their fourth title in six years, placing her just behind strikers like Pernille Harder and Ewa Pajor. Yet her influence on the pitch extended far beyond just scoring. In Liga F, where Barcelona celebrated their seventh consecutive title, she was joint-sixth in assists and fourth in creating open-play chances. Among the leading players in Europe, only a handful surpassed her in sequence involvements leading to shots, highlighting her crucial role in Barcelona's attacking strategy. Putellas led the league in chance creation and final-third passes, showcasing her exceptional playmaking skills. In the Champions League, she matched Bayern Munich’s Klara Buhl for the most chances created, demonstrating her prowess on the continental stage. Growing up in Mollet del Valles, just outside Barcelona, Putellas began her football journey in the streets, quickly becoming a fan of the club and idolizing legends like Andres Iniesta and Ronaldinho. After a stint at La Masia and various clubs, she returned to Barcelona, where she enjoyed a phenomenal 14-year career filled with 38 trophies, including 10 league titles and four European cups. Her first Ballon d'Or win in 2021 was overshadowed by her ACL injury right before Euro 2022, which sidelined her from the tournament. Although she retained the award that year, her limited role in Spain’s victorious 2023 World Cup campaign was a painful reminder of her struggles. However, after scoring in the 2024 Champions League final and stepping up during Bonmati's injury absence, Putellas played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s success as they claimed four trophies that season. In June, she even scored twice in a crucial match against England, securing Spain's spot at the 2027 World Cup. With her contract ending at Barcelona, Putellas faced an emotional departure from her lifelong club and chose to join the ambitious London City Lionesses, backed by US billionaire Michelle Kang. "I’m always looking forward to better things, and that’s why I’m here, because I always need to be moving as a person and a player," she shared in a recent podcast. With three goals and one assist in her first seven WSL matches, it's clear that Putellas continues to earn her title as 'La Reina' on the pitch.