Alexia Putellas won her third Ballon d’Or Feminin at a ceremony at the London Palladium, returning to the individual honor after overcoming a torn anterior cruciate ligament that disrupted her career. The award places the Spanish midfielder alongside her national teammate Aitana Bonmati as the joint-record holder for the most Ballon d’Or Feminin titles.
The 2026 London Palladium Ceremony And Sixth Straight Spanish Win
The joint-presentation by UEFA and France Football on Jan. 27, 2026, extended Spain’s dominance of the award to six consecutive years. Putellas secured the prize following her 2021 and 2022 victories, while Bonmati won the trophy from 2023 through 2025. The category’s history began in 2018 with Norway’s Ada Hegerberg, followed by United States player Megan Rapinoe in 2019, before the ceremony was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quadruple Crown And Record Playmaking With Barcelona
Putellas claimed the honor after captaining Barcelona to a four-trophy sweep during the 2025–2026 season. The club won Liga F, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de España, and the UEFA Women’s Champions League. She finished the campaign with 21 goals and 13 assists across all official competitions.
She scored seven goals in the Champions League to help Barcelona secure its fourth European title in six seasons. She also recorded 965 successful passes into the final third across all competitions, the highest total among players in Liga F, the Champions League, the Copa de la Reina, and the Supercopa de España.
In the Champions League alone, she created 36 scoring chances, tying Bayern Munich player Klara Bühl for the most in the tournament. That output followed a period where she carried Barcelona’s attack while Bonmati missed roughly five months due to injury.
International Qualification And Injury Recovery
Putellas maintained her form for the Spain national team, scoring twice in a 4–0 victory over England in June that secured qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The return to the pitch followed a lengthy rehabilitation process after she tore her anterior cruciate ligament just before the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro.
Although she won her second Ballon d’Or later that year during her recovery, her playing time remained limited during Spain’s 2023 World Cup campaign. She scored in the 2024 Champions League final before returning to her peak output during the 2025–2026 season.
Fourteen Years At Barcelona And Summer Move To London
Born in Mollet del Vallès in Catalonia, Putellas joined Barcelona’s youth system at La Masia, played for RCD Espanyol and Levante UD, and returned to Barcelona in 2012. Over 14 years with the club, she won 38 major trophies, including 10 league titles and four Champions League crowns.
Her contract with Barcelona expired in the summer, prompting a transfer to London City Lionesses in the English Women’s Super League. Project backing from American billionaire Michele Kang drew her to the English club, where she has scored three goals and provided one assist in her first seven league matches.
Message To Young Players At The Gala
During her acceptance speech, Putellas addressed children watching worldwide. “I want to say to all the boys and girls around the world: if you love football and you want to play football, play football. It doesn’t matter if you are a boy or a girl,” she said, according to the BBC. “It doesn’t matter where you come from. If someone tells you that you can’t, don’t listen to them. Believe in yourself.”
In the final voting for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Feminin, Barcelona forward Ewa Pajor finished second, and Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw took third. Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane won the men’s Ballon d’Or, becoming the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Ballon d’Or Feminin awards has Alexia Putellas won?
Putellas has won three Ballon d’Or Feminin titles, taking the award in 2021, 2022, and 2026. This ties her with Aitana Bonmati for the most wins in the award’s history.
Which club does Alexia Putellas currently play for?
Putellas plays for London City Lionesses in the English Women’s Super League. She joined the club in the summer after her contract with Barcelona expired.
What trophies did Barcelona win during the 2025–2026 season?
Barcelona won four trophies under Putellas’s captaincy: Liga F, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de España, and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Who finished behind Putellas in the 2026 Ballon d’Or Feminin voting?
Barcelona forward Ewa Pajor finished in second place, while Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw finished in third place.
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