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Alexia Putellas wins third Ballon d'Or four years after her last
Alexia Putellas has claimed her third Ballon d'Or at 32, four years after her previous triumph, and begins a new chapter as captain of London City Lionesses after 14 years at Barcelona.
By Charlotte Redford · 4 min read
Alexia Putellas has won her third Ballon d'Or at the age of 32, four years after collecting her previous award. The Spanish midfielder, who has spent much of her career as one of the most decisive players in women's football, now carries the honour into a new phase of her career as captain of London City Lionesses.
The move ends a 14-year spell at Barcelona, the club where Putellas established herself as one of the defining figures of the women's game. Her departure marks a significant turn for both player and club, as she takes on a leadership role in the Women's Super League, one of the most competitive domestic leagues in Europe. Her arrival in London also takes her away from the Catalan setting in which her career was built, and places her in a league where the standard of competition is widely regarded as rising quickly.
Putellas's story begins in Mollet del Vallès, a town near Barcelona, before her career took her to the heart of Catalan football and later to London. The journey from a small Catalan town to the top of the global game has been shaped by sustained excellence on the pitch, and by a readiness to speak openly about the conditions facing women footballers. Her biography, as documented in the coverage of her career, traces that progression from local beginnings to international recognition.
Her career has also been marked by serious injury. Putellas suffered a cruciate ligament rupture, a setback that kept her out of the game for a long period and tested her resolve. Her return to the highest level, and her subsequent recognition with the Ballon d'Or, underline a comeback that many in the sport regard as remarkable. The injury forced her to rebuild her fitness and her confidence, and the fact that she has since returned to win the sport's most prestigious individual award gives the comeback a particular weight in the wider story of her career.
Beyond the pitch, Putellas has been an active voice on issues affecting women in football, including pay, working conditions and the professional standards expected of the women's game. Her willingness to take on those battles has given her influence that extends well past her own results, and her new role at London City Lionesses places her at the centre of that debate in England. Her profile is now closely linked to the push for better conditions across the women's game, a cause that has gained momentum as the professional structures around the sport have developed.
The Ballon d'Or places Putellas among a small group of players who have won the award more than once. Her third triumph confirms her status as one of the leading figures in the history of the women's competition, and sets a high benchmark for the next stage of her career in London. The award also arrives at a moment when the women's game is attracting greater attention from clubs, broadcasters and supporters, meaning her performances in England will be watched closely by a wider audience.
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