Alexia Putellas Secures Third Ballon d'Or Feminin Title

Award Victory

Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas has won the Ballon d'Or Feminin for a record-equalling third time, keeping the prestigious prize in Spanish hands for the sixth consecutive year. The 32-year-old collected the most votes from an international panel of journalists across Fifa's top-50 ranked countries. Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor finished second in the voting, while Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw came in third. Putellas joins her Spain and former Barcelona team-mate Aitana Bonmati on three crowns.

Stellar Season

Last season, Putellas captained Barcelona to a quadruple that included Champions League glory, before moving to Women's Super League side London City Lionesses in July. According to Goal.com, she scored 24 goals and set up 13 more across all competitions for Barcelona, which included seven goals and seven assists in the Champions League alone. UEFA also named her the best player of the competition. Her latest victory follows a hard-fought recovery from a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in 2022.

Context

The Ballon d'Or Feminin is one of the highest individual honours in women's football, recognizing the standout player over the course of a European season. Spain's recent dominance in the award reflects the rapid growth and success of the country's domestic league and national team setup. Players who reach this level typically combine exceptional technical skill with deep tactical discipline honed through elite youth academies.