Alexia Putellas has been crowned the winner of the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or at a ceremony held on Monday at the London Palladium, according to ESPN. The midfielder secured the prestigious award for a third time, having previously won the honour in 2021 and 2022, as reported by GOAL. Her latest triumph draws her level with former Barcelona teammate Aitana Bonmatí, who claimed the award in 2023, 2024, and 2025, according to pmnewsnigeria.com.
Alexia Putellas Wins Third Ballon d’Or After Historic Quadruple Season
All the boys and girls around the world — if you love football and if you want to play football, play football,
Putellas said during her acceptance speech, according to ESPN. It doesn't matter if you're a boy or if you're a girl. It doesn't matter where you come from. Don't listen if someone tells you, you can't do it. Believe in yourself.
The award crowns an extraordinary 2025–26 campaign in which Putellas helped guide Barcelona to a historic quadruple, capturing the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Liga F, Copa de la Reina, and Spanish Supercopa titles, as detailed by ESPN and pmnewsnigeria.com. Across all competitions for Barcelona last season, Putellas scored 24 goals and provided 13 assists, including seven goals and seven assists in the Champions League, where she was named player of the tournament by UEFA, according to GOAL.
Overcoming Injury and a Historic Club Transition
Putellas’s victory marks a remarkable return to the pinnacle of football following a severe anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered on the eve of Euro 2022, as noted by BBC. That injury limited her appearances over subsequent seasons before she successfully re-established herself in the starting lineup and regained her world-class form, according to ESPN.
Following 14 trophy-laden years with her childhood club, Putellas made the surprise decision to leave Barcelona at the end of the 2025–26 campaign to join the London City Lionesses, making her the first active Women’s Super League player to win the Ballon d’Or, as reported by ESPN. At the London club, she joined the project led by billionaire Michelle Kang, as detailed by BBC.
Podium Finishes and Wider Club Dominance
At Monday’s ceremony in London, Putellas was joined on the podium by former Barcelona teammate Ewa Pajor and Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw, according to ESPN. Pajor finished the European campaign as the Champions League top scorer with 11 goals and totaled 31 strikes across all competitions, while Shaw netted 27 goals in 32 appearances to help Manchester City win the WSL and the FA Cup, as reported by ESPN.
Barcelona’s overall excellence was further recognized as the club collected the Women’s Club of the Year award for the third time in four years, while goalkeeper Cata Coll received the Best Goalkeeper Prize, according to barcablaugranes.com. CF Pachuca and Mexico striker Charlyn Corral also claimed the Women’s Striker of the Year award, as noted by ESPN.
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 said, according to BBC.