Alexia Putellas has claimed the Ballon d’Or Feminin for a record‑equalling third time, extending Spanish dominance of the award to a sixth straight year. The 32‑year‑old midfielder, who led Barcelona to a historic quadruple in 2025‑26, was voted best player in the world by an international panel of journalists from FIFA’s top‑50 ranked countries. She topped the poll with 21 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, while Ewa Pajor of Barcelona finished second and Khadija Shaw of Manchester City came in third.
Putellas’ triumph follows a remarkable comeback after a career‑threatening anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2022 that ruled her out of Euro 2022. She returned to form in the 2024 Champions League final, scoring the winner, and then carried the creative load for Barcelona in 2025‑26 when teammate Aitana Bonmati missed five months with injury. Her 21 goals included seven in the Champions League, where Barcelona secured a fourth continental title in six seasons. In Spain’s domestic league, she finished joint‑sixth for assists and fourth for chances created, and ranked third and second respectively among all players in Europe’s top five leagues for goals and assists.
The award now sits in the hands of Spanish players for the sixth consecutive year, with Putellas and her former Barcelona colleague Aitana Bonmati each winning three Ballon d’Or Feminin titles (Bonmati in 2023, 2024 and 2025; Putellas in 2021, 2022 and now 2026). The only non‑Spanish winners in the past decade have been Norway’s Ada Hegerberg (2018) and the United States’ Megan Rapinoe (2019). Putellas’ victory also coincides with England captain Harry Kane winning the men’s Ballon d’Or, the first Englishman to do so since Michael Owen in 2001.
After her contract with Barcelona expired, Putellas opted for a new challenge, signing with London City Lionesses in the Women’s Super League in July. She has already made an impact, registering three goals and an assist in seven appearances. In an interview with BBC’s Women’s Football Weekly podcast, she explained that she is “always looking forward to better things” and needs to keep moving both personally and professionally.
With the award secured and a fresh chapter beginning in England, Putellas remains a central figure in world football. Her performances will continue to be watched closely as she balances club duties with her role in Spain’s national team, which secured qualification for the 2027 World Cup after a decisive 4‑0 win over England in June. The record‑equalling Ballon d’Or cements her status as one of the sport’s elite while signalling that Spanish football will remain a dominant force in the years ahead.