Alexia Putellas wins a record-equalling third Women’s Ballon d’Or

Alexia Putellas has won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for a record-equalling third time, according to reports from Reuters Sport, the BBC, UEFA and Channels Television. The Spanish midfielder previously collected the award in 2021 and 2022, when she was the creative centre of a dominant Barcelona team. Her latest victory completes a return from a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered while preparing for Spain’s bid to win Euro 2022.

The injury disrupted her rise and left her playing only a supporting role in Spain’s World Cup triumph the following year, according to Channels Television. During Putellas’s absence, her Barcelona and Spain teammate Aitana Bonmatí became the leading figure in the women’s game. Bonmatí won the Ballon d’Or three times between 2023 and 2025.

She was later sidelined by a leg injury, creating an opening for Putellas to re-establish herself at the top. Putellas helped Barcelona regain the Champions League last season in what Channels Television described as a dominant campaign. The achievement came as she recovered her best form after almost two years of rebuilding her fitness and performance following the knee injury.

“I never felt that the (Ballon d’Or) trophy was ‘mine’,” Putellas told AFP in an interview cited by Channels Television. She said that having experienced the award before allowed her to enjoy it more. In another comment, she said the injury had taught her to enjoy each moment because a return could never be taken for granted.

The 32-year-old has since moved to London City Lionesses, ending her long association with Barcelona. The club is owned by American businesswoman Michele Kang and is described in the report as the only fully independent team in England’s top division. Putellas said she wanted a new challenge rather than trying to recreate what she had already achieved in Catalonia.

Her arrival has already been linked to the club’s strong start in the English Women’s Super League. London City Lionesses are reported to sit just behind Chelsea and Manchester City and ahead of Arsenal. Putellas said she hoped to bring a winning culture and mentality to a club where much remains to be built.

The move may also help Spain’s preparations to defend the World Cup next year. Putellas faces a lighter workload without European football this season, although she said her focus remained on daily progress. Her award gives the midfielder a major personal milestone as she begins what she called a completely different chapter in London.