Alexia Putellas has secured the Ballon d’Or for a record‑setting third time, beating former Barcelona teammates Ewa Pajor and Patri Guijarro to win the award on Monday. The Spanish midfielder, who left Barcelona after a 14‑year spell to join London City Lionesses last summer, has now become the second woman to claim the prestigious trophy three times, following Aitana Bonmatí’s 2023, 2024 and 2025 triumphs.
Putellas’ performance last season cemented her status as the world’s best. During Barcelona’s historic quadruple campaign, she netted eight goals and supplied seven assists across 11 appearances, helping the club lift the Champions League for a fourth time. In addition to the European crown, Barcelona added the Spanish league, Copa de la Reina and Supercopa titles to their trophy cabinet. Her move to the Lionesses at the end of the 2025‑26 season made her the first active Women’s Super League player to receive the Ballon d’Or.
The podium was completed by Poland striker Ewa Pajor, who finished as the Champions League’s top scorer with 11 goals and ended the season with 31 goals in all competitions. Patri Guijarro, while less quantifiable in numbers, was praised by teammates as one of the world’s best midfielders; Barcelona’s Vicky López described her as “the best defensive midfielder” and noted that Guijarro deserved a Ballon d’Or. The previous year’s winner, Aitana Bonmatí, was not nominated after missing most of the season with a broken leg.
Barcelona’s dominance extended beyond the individual award. Vicky López was named Women’s Young Talent of the Year for a second consecutive year, overcoming strong competition from Clara Serrajordi, Felicia Schröder, Lily Yohannes and Veerfe Buurman. The club also claimed Women’s Coach of the Year (Pere Romeu), Goalkeeper of the Year (Cata Coll) and Women’s Club of the Year. The Women’s Striker of the Year went to Charlyn Corral of CF Pachuca and Mexico, highlighting the breadth of talent across the sport.
With Putellas now in the Lionesses’ ranks, the English club will look to build on her experience as they aim for domestic success and a return to European competition. Barcelona, meanwhile, will continue to defend their domestic and continental titles while maintaining their strong presence in the global women’s football awards.