Alexia Putellas once again lifted the Ballon d'Or at the Barcelona gala, celebrating her third time as the best player in the world. The Catalan captain, who after the 2023-24 season in which the club won the Champions League four titles, had moved to London City Lionesses, received the award at the stadium in the English capital, along with the best young talents of the year and coach Pere Romeu.
In her speech, Putellas thanked all the nominees, her Barça teammates and the coaching staff, emphasizing that the presence of several club players on the list of winners reflected the collective success of the season. “It was a real pleasure to play with each and every one of you,” she said, remembering the moments shared and the pride of having been captain of the team. He also made special recognition to coach Pere Romeu, the medical staff and the club workers who had supported him over the years.
The player recalled the importance of the fans, whom she considered “one more” and thanked them for their 14 years of unconditional support. “Thank you for your respect and esteem, for these years trying to defend this shield as best as possible,” he added, before mentioning the president and the board of directors of Barça, highlighting their presence in the club's critical moments. Putellas expressed his desire to bring recognition to Barcelona, the place where “it should be.”
In a gesture of gratitude to the Spanish team, the triple Ballon d'Or winner spoke about the upcoming challenges, ensuring that the team is “for everything” in the next World Cup. He also remembered his inner circle, referring to the moments of recovery after knee surgery and the constant presence of his loved ones in moments of doubt.
To conclude, the captain left an inspiring message to the young people: "For all the boys and girls, play football if you want. It doesn't matter if you are a boy or girl or where you come from. Don't listen to those who tell you no. Just do it. If you have a dream, go for it, even if you have to start from scratch. The most important thing is to do it with love and passion." With these words, Putellas closed the gala with the same passion that has characterized her throughout her career.