The Spanish midfielder adds another Ballon d’Or to her remarkable career.
Alexia Putellas has won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for a third time, taking the prestigious individual award at the ceremony in London on Monday, 26 October. The 32-year-old Spanish midfielder previously won the award in 2021 and 2022. Her latest victory follows a successful 2025–26 campaign with Barcelona, where she played a key role in the club’s domestic and European success. Putellas finished ahead of Barcelona forward Ewa Pajor, who came second, and Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw, who placed third, according to UEFA’s published rankings. The result ends Aitana Bonmatí’s three-year run as the winner, following her victories in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Putellas and Bonmatí have now each won the women’s award three times. A return to the top Putellas established herself among the leading players in women’s football with consecutive Ballon d’Or victories in 2021 and 2022. Her performances helped Barcelona become a dominant force in the women’s game. Her progress was interrupted in July 2022 when she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The setback required a lengthy recovery and disrupted her preparations for the European Championship that year. She subsequently returned to competitive football and continued to contribute to Barcelona and Spain. Bonmatí emerged as a leading individual award winner during Putellas’s recovery, collecting three consecutive Women’s Ballon d’Or titles between 2023 and 2025. Putellas’s 2026 victory marks another major milestone in her return to the highest level of the sport. A standout Champions League campaign One of the strongest elements of Putellas’s 2025–26 season was her performance in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. According to UEFA, she scored seven goals and provided seven assists in 11 appearances. Her 14 goal contributions were more than those of any other player in the competition. She was subsequently named the 2025–26 UEFA Women’s Champions League Player of the Season by UEFA’s Technical Observer Group. Barcelona completed their European campaign with a 4–0 victory over OL Lyonnes in the final in Oslo, securing the club’s fourth European title. Putellas’s contribution combined attacking output with her influence in midfield, helping Barcelona progress through the competition and finish the season as European champions. A trophy-winning final season at Barcelona Barcelona enjoyed a successful 2025–26 campaign, winning four trophies, including the Spanish league, the Copa de la Reina, the Spanish Super Cup and the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Putellas’s individual recognition came alongside further honours for the club. Barcelona was named Women’s Club of the Year at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, while head coach Pere Romeu received the Women’s Coach of the Year award. The season also marked the end of Putellas’s long association with Barcelona. Having joined the club in 2012, she spent 14 years there before moving to England in July 2026. A new chapter in England Putellas joined London City Lionesses ahead of the 2026–27 season, bringing her experience to the English Women’s Super League. The move represents a new stage in the midfielder’s career after years of success in Spain. Her achievements with Barcelona include major domestic honours and multiple Champions League campaigns, while she has also represented Spain at the highest international level. In 2025, Putellas helped Spain win the UEFA Women’s Nations League. She was named Player of the Finals, adding another international distinction to her record. Her third Ballon d’Or arrives as she begins this new chapter in English football, following a final Barcelona season that combined team success with outstanding individual performances. What the award means The Women’s Ballon d’Or recognises the player judged to have delivered the best individual performances during the relevant evaluation period. The award is decided through voting by an international panel of journalists. Putellas’s latest victory adds to a career that has included major club trophies, international success and recognition among the leading players in women’s football. Her return to the top of the Ballon d’Or rankings also highlights the competition at the highest level of the women’s game. Bonmatí’s three consecutive wins had set a remarkable standard, while players such as Pajor and Shaw have continued to establish themselves among the sport’s leading performers. For Putellas, the 2026 award is recognition of a successful season and another defining achievement in her career. With a new club in England, the three-time Ballon d’Or winner now faces a fresh challenge in the next stage of her professional journey.
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