Alexia Putellas has achieved another major milestone in women’s football by winning the Ballon d’Or Féminin for the third time. With this victory, the Spanish midfielder has matched the record of her Spain teammate Aitana Bonmatí. Their success also continues Spain’s remarkable run, with Spanish players winning the award for six consecutive years.
Putellas previously won the prestigious award in 2021 and 2022. Bonmatí then took over, winning three consecutive titles from 2023 to 2025. Together, the two Barcelona stars have dominated women’s football’s most prestigious individual award in recent years.
Putellas earned her latest honour after delivering an outstanding performance for FC Barcelona during the 2025–26 season. As captain, she helped the team win four trophies, including the UEFA Women’s Champions League. She scored 21 goals and provided 13 assists across all competitions, proving her importance to the team’s success.
Her performances in the Champions League were particularly impressive. She scored seven goals and created 36 chances, matching Bayern Munich’s Klara Bühl in that category. Across four competitions, Putellas created 89 chances, including 19 clear scoring opportunities. These numbers highlight her ability to create opportunities for teammates as well as score goals herself.
Barcelona also continued its domestic dominance by winning the league title for the seventh consecutive season. Putellas played an important role in this achievement, recording seven league assists and creating 40 chances from open play. Her contribution became even more important when Bonmatí was unavailable for five months because of an injury. Putellas took on additional responsibility and helped Barcelona maintain its high level of performance.
Her journey to this achievement has not been easy. Before Euro 2022, Putellas suffered a serious knee injury that forced her to miss the tournament. The setback was a major disappointment for the midfielder, who had been in excellent form at the time. However, she worked hard to recover, regain her fitness and return to top-level football.
Over time, Putellas rebuilt her confidence and improved her performances. She later played an important role in Spain’s success at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, further strengthening her reputation as one of the leading players in the women’s game. Her latest Ballon d’Or victory reflects her determination, consistency and ability to overcome difficult moments in her career.
Putellas received the highest number of votes from an international panel of journalists. Poland striker Ewa Pajor finished in second place, while Jamaica forward Khadija Shaw secured third place. The results highlighted the strong competition among the world’s leading women footballers.
After receiving the award, Putellas delivered an emotional speech in which she thanked her Barcelona teammates. She praised the team’s achievements during the season and said that several of her teammates had also deserved the individual honour. Her words reflected the importance of teamwork in Barcelona’s successful campaign.
She also spoke about the challenges the team had faced, including injuries and unexpected difficulties throughout the season. Despite these problems, the players continued to support one another and work towards their goals. Putellas described being the team’s captain as a great honour.
Winning the Ballon d’Or Féminin for a third time is another significant achievement in Putellas’s career. From overcoming a serious injury to leading Barcelona to multiple trophies, she has shown determination and leadership at the highest level. Her latest success further strengthens her position among the greatest players in women’s football.