Ballon d’Or Feminin: Alexia Putellas wins award for record-equalling third time

Putellas was born and grew up in the Catalan municipality of Mollet del Valles, about 12 miles north-east of Barcelona.

She began playing football in the street, and soon became a Barcelona fan and a regular attendee at Camp Nou.

With matches always on the TV at home, former Spain and Barcelona star Andres Iniesta and Brazilian duo Rivaldo and Ronaldinho quickly became her idols.

After attending a summer football camp run by Xavi and playing for local side CE Sabadell, Putellas spent a year at La Masia, Barcelona’s famous youth academy.

Spells at Espanyol and Levante followed the disbandment of her girls team, before she eventually returned to Barca in 2012.

Cue the start of a 14-year career with her childhood club during which she won 38 trophies, including 10 league titles and four European cups.

But after winning the Ballon d’Or for the first time in 2021, one of the toughest moments of Putellas’ career came when she suffered an ACL injury on the eve of Euro 2022, ruling her out of the tournament.

Though she retained the Ballon d’Or later that year, it took a while for her to return to her best level. Playing only a bit-part role in Spain’s triumphant 2023 World Cup campaign would have stung.

After scoring in the 2024 Champions League final and improving further the following season, in 2025-26 she shouldered much of Barcelona’s creative burden as Aitana Bonmati missed five months through injury and ended the season a quadruple winner.

If that was not enough, the midfielder scored twice in a 4-0 thrashing of England in June that secured Spain’s place at the 2027 World Cup at the Lionesses’ expense.

With her contract at Barcelona expiring and keen for a fresh challenge, Putellas made the decision to leave her childhood club. She, and her fans, were distraught.

She had several offers from England, Mexico and the United States, but joined the ambitious project of US billionaire Michelle Kang at London City Lionesses in July.

“I’m just always looking forward to better things and that’s why I’m here too, because I always need to be moving as a person and a player,” Putellas told BBC’s Women’s Football Weekly podcast in August.

With three goals and one assist in seven WSL games for her new club, it is clear Putellas is still deserving of her nickname.