Alexia Putellas claimed her third career Ballon d’Or at the 2026 ceremony in London, completing a remarkable recovery from a severe anterior cruciate ligament rupture. As OSEN report, the Spanish midfielder shares the record for most women’s Ballon d’Or titles with teammate Aitana Bonmatí, extending Spain’s six-year dominance of the award.
Recovering From a Career-Threatening Injury
The latest accolade arrives four years after a devastating medical setback threatened to derail her professional career. In 2022, right before the UEFA Women’s Euro, Putellas suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament that sidelined her for an extended rehabilitation period.
OSEN note that she gradually rebuilt her fitness, scoring in the 2024 UEFA Women’s Champions League final to signal her return. By the 2025-2026 season, she returned to absolute peak form, serving as Barcelona’s captain and driving the Catalan club to a historic four-trophy sweep.
Dominating the Domestic and European Stages
During that triumphant 2025-2026 campaign, Putellas delivered staggering numbers across all major competitions. She registered 21 goals and 13 assists in official matches, ranking third in scoring and second in assists among Europe’s top five leagues. Her 36 chances created in the Champions League tied with Bayern Munich’s Klara Bühl for the tournament’s top spot.
| Competition (2025-2026) | Putellas Performance & Barcelona Result |
|---|---|
| Liga F | League Champions (7 assists, 40 open-play chances created) |
| UEFA Women’s Champions League | Champions (7 goals, 36 chances created) |
| Copa de la Reina | Champions |
| Supercopa de España | Champions |
Her leadership proved decisive when fellow midfielder Aitana Bonmatí missed roughly five months due to injury. Carrying the creative load, Putellas orchestrated Barcelona’s attack to secure the domestic league, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de España, and the Champions League crown.
Transitioning to English Football and Inspiring the Next Generation
Following the expiration of her Barcelona contract this past summer, Putellas embarked on a fresh chapter abroad. She transferred to London City Lionesses in the Women’s Super League, joining the ambitious project led by American businesswoman Michele Kang. She has already contributed three goals and one assist across her first seven league appearances.
Accepting the honor in London, Putellas delivered a direct message to young athletes worldwide, as cited by BBC coverage in the source reports: “I want to say to all the boys and girls around the world: If you love football and you want to play, just play. It doesn’t matter if you are a boy or a girl.” She added, “It doesn’t matter where you come from. If someone tells you that you can’t do it, don’t listen. Believe in yourself.”
In the final voting results reported by OSEN, fellow Barcelona forward Ewa Pajor finished in second place, while Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw placed third. Meanwhile, the men’s Ballon d’Or went to Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, making him the first Englishman to win the prize since Michael Owen in 2001.
